"So..."
Hui'an stood outside the door and knocked.
Hearing the knock, Ji Wu swallowed his words, stood up, and opened the door. He saw Hui'an standing outside and bowed, "Your Highness, this official greets you!"
"Lord Ji need not stand on ceremony!"
Hui'an waved her hand, her gaze shifting between him and Yu Chengxuan. She smiled and asked, "Have I interrupted you? If you still have important matters to discuss, I can return later!"
"Imperial Sister jokes too much. It's damp and cold outside, please come in quickly!" Yu Chengxuan smiled and stood up, ushering Hui'an in.
Yu Chengxuan's smile did not reach his eyes, but due to his appearance, he still made people feel as if they were bathed in spring breeze. Hui'an entered. Her line of sight briefly glanced at the shoes by the door, then settled on Ji Wu's feet. The gaze was fleeting. She stepped inside. Her residence was not far from Yu Chengxuan's, with many corridors. Thus, despite the turbulent wind and rain outside, she was not significantly drenched, though the soles of her shoes were still slightly damp with rainwater, leaving footprints on the ground as she walked.
Yu Chengxuan's gaze fell on the footprints, then shifted to Hui'an's face.
Hui'an sat down on a chair. Ji Wu quickly picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Hui'an. Hui'an nodded in thanks. Ji Wu repeatedly said he dared not.
"Your Majesty, this official..."
"Lord Ji, if you have nothing else, would you mind staying to listen?"
Ji Wu did not know why the princess had come to see His Highness, but he wisely intended to excuse himself and wait outside. After the princess left, he would continue his unfinished words. However, as soon as he spoke, Hui'an's voice interjected. Ji Wu was slightly startled, then looked at Yu Chengxuan, who gave a slight nod.
After receiving Yu Chengxuan's instruction, Ji Wu said, "In that case, this subordinate will listen with washed ears!" He then sat down again.
Hui'an made no preamble, stating directly, "The riot among the people of Linyuan today was orchestrated by Nan Shiying."
"A few days ago, I received a letter from Nan Shiying. As I have been staying at the Regent's mansion for some time, I have become quite familiar with Nan Shiying. In her letter, she first expressed her resentment towards the Nan family and Nan Yuan'er, then her tone shifted, and she asked me to do her a favor!"
"She asked me to go to the Nan residence the day after I received the letter and invite Nan Yuan'er out for an outing."
"You should have heard what happened afterwards, right?" Hui'an briefly recounted the cause and progression of events. At the end, she did not go into detail, but among those present, Yu Chengxuan was a given, and even Ji Wu, whom Yu Chengxuan disdained, was an outstanding figure of the new generation in Dali. There was no need for Hui'an to meticulously explain everything.
Ji Wu's expression was stern, feeling that the current situation in Linyuan was very much like the stormy weather.
"This official does not understand!"
Ji Wu truly could not comprehend why Linyuan was still mired in internal conflict when the two countries were on the verge of war.
How much longer could a country that was perpetually in internal strife, where ministers and even royalty clashed for personal gain, disregarding the foundation of the nation, continue to exist.
Yu Chengxuan and Hui'an looked at him simultaneously. Ji Wu's brow furrowed. The more severe the internal conflict in Linyuan, the better, ideally allowing Dali to swallow it whole without bloodshed. However, Ji Wu felt an inexplicable emotion, always feeling that even though he was in the capital of Linyuan, at the center of this chaotic vortex, he still could not see clearly the situation in Linyuan, as if a layer of mist obscured his vision, making everything seem miles away.
Take this matter for example. Nan Shiying undoubtedly hated Nan Yuan'er fiercely, but how could she dare to act at this time, with enemies at the border? Did she not know that the most important thing to do when facing external threats was to quell internal unrest?
Even if Linyuan's internal strife could not be quelled, they should not have targeted the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, the head of the civil officials, at this time!
And, she almost...
"Your Highness, this official heard that if not for two young noblemen who desperately protected you at the time, you would have met the same fate as that Nan Yuan'er?" Ji Wu suddenly looked up and asked, considering a certain possibility.
His voice was somewhat high-pitched and hurried, as if eager to hear a confirmation from Hui'an.
Hui'an nodded, a cold, sinister smile appearing on her face, sharp and fierce, "Yes, I almost didn't make it back!"
"Was Nan Shiying, no, should I say Ji Jinmo's true objective..." Ji Wu looked at Hui'an. Hui'an paused, suddenly recalling the contents of the letter, finding it somewhat unbelievable. If she had not known Ji Wu was from the Zhang clan and would not betray her imperial brother, she would have thought this fellow was a spy planted by Nan Shiying in Dali, in the Zhang clan, and by Yu Chengxuan's side!
This reaction, if not exactly the same, was identical!
Hui'an feigned contemplation, her tone not affirmative, showing a hint of uncertain hesitation, "Most likely not!"
She said this, looking at Yu Chengxuan, seemingly seeking his affirmation.
Yu Chengxuan lightly rubbed the rim of his cup, looking at Hui'an with a half-smile. Hui'an suddenly felt as if she had been seen through. She subtly frowned, then in the next moment, she concealed all her emotions.
"No!"
Yu Chengxuan negated Ji Wu's guess, "The moment the border situation became chaotic, Ji Jinmo had already won a city. There was no need to do anything more. You may have only been in court for a short time, you still don't understand my father. He values the appearance of being a ruler more than anything. If my imperial sister died in Linyuan, then Dali and Linyuan would inevitably be unable to resolve the matter peacefully."
"Do you think Ji Jinmo was willing to personally lead the Demon Hunting Army to the border?"
Ji Wu shook his head. They had analyzed Linyuan's situation before and were certain that Regent Ji Jinmo would not leave Linyuan.
Thinking of this, Ji Wu felt he had misunderstood. It was more likely that Ji Hong was the one who acted.
However, firstly, Nan Shiying could not be Ji Hong's person. Secondly, if Ji Hong wanted the princess dead, why would he set up such a complex scheme? He had a hundred better ways.
So the matter returned to its origin.
"Could it be that this matter is merely Nan Shiying's revenge on Nan Yuan'er?"
"Could it be Nan Chaoyin?" Hui'an offered a different opinion.
Ji Wu was full of questions.
What did she mean?
"Imperial Sister means Nan Chaoyin orchestrated it himself?" Yu Chengxuan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
Hui'an nodded, "That possibility cannot be ruled out!"
Ji Wu shook his head, "That's impossible!"
Hui'an retorted, "Why is it impossible? If you eliminate all other possibilities, the least likely one might be the most likely one!"
Ji Wu still disagreed, "If the princess assumes Nan Shiying has always been working for her father, then what is the objective? What is Nan Chaoyin's objective in doing this?"
"The position of Empress."
Ji Wu: "..."
"If it's for the position of Empress, it's even more impossible!"
"Do you know that the moment the border incident occurred, Nan Yuan'er was destined to become the Empress of Linyuan?"
At this point, Ji Wu paused.
Wait!
The border incident occurred, and the official gazette entered the capital.
Nan Yuan'er's exceptionally noble fate once again surfaced in Ji Wu's mind, and all the disorganized threads suddenly became clear.
If there was a mastermind behind the border war that broke out between Dali and Linyuan, then why couldn't it be Nan Chaoyin?