It's impossible to like Situ Zixian, but I definitely hate Situ Chuanqiong. Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) said to the man who appeared cold and expressionless on the surface but whose eyes couldn't hide his joy, "Zixian, can I ask you to do something for me?"
"Royal sister-in-law, please speak freely. Zixian will do his best if he can," Situ Zixian replied with a stern face.
"Today I have exposed the matter of your substitute. Can you not tell the Emperor about it for now?" Xiao Wenqiang had her own considerations.
"Royal sister-in-law intends to..." Situ Zixian looked up and asked cautiously.
"Don't call me royal sister-in-law anymore. I don't want to hear those two words." After saying this, Xiao Wenqiang got up and walked to the window, looking into the distance. "I just don't want him to know for now. When the time comes for him to know, I will ask him myself."
For some reason, Situ Zixian had the illusion that she was about to fly away. He couldn't help but ask, "Royal... you... do you want to leave the palace?"
Xiao Wenqiang turned her head to look into his eyes. "Leave the palace? Can I still get out? I will never be able to leave this place in my life!"
"If you want to leave, I can help you find a way," Situ Zixian took a few steps closer.
Xiao Wenqiang shook her head with a bitter smile. "Under the heavens, all land belongs to the king. Even if I leave the palace, I can't escape his grasp. He doesn't love me, yet he keeps me in the position of Empress, which means I am still useful to him. Perhaps when he no longer needs me, my corpse will be able to leave this palace!"
"Don't be so pessimistic. I will help you," Situ Zixian said earnestly. "Yu... Yulan, you can try to trust me!"
"Perhaps. But I won't place any hope on others anymore." Xiao Wenqiang looked as if her heart had already died...
When Situ Zixian finally left, he did not get a definite answer from Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang).
However, he was not in a hurry. He would pave the way first and then take Yulan away directly. Words were not as important as actions to earn her trust.
...
Meanwhile, Situ Chuanqiong, who had gone to find Leng Yuanxiang overnight, finally entered the Prime Minister's mansion. Despite being just an official's residence, the guards were surprisingly strict.
The man, dressed in black, managed to enter Leng Yuanxiang's boudoir under the cover of his personal guards creating a diversion.
"Who? Mmph..." Situ Chuanqiong climbed through the window and knocked out Chunyue, who was guarding the outer room.
Leng Yuanxiang was in the process of undressing, intending to take a bath. Suddenly, she heard the sound of something heavy falling in the outer room. She quickly covered herself and asked as she walked, "Chunyue, what's going on outside?"
Qiuyue did not answer her, but soon Situ Chuanqiong appeared before her and replied, "Little Xiang'er, don't be nervous. It's me!"
"Situ Chuanqiong? How are you here?" Leng Yuanxiang asked in confusion. "Where is Chunyue?"
"Chunyue is resting. Little Xiang'er, don't worry. I was just worried about you living alone and wanted to check on you." Situ Chuanqiong suddenly moved closer and saw the tub in the inner room. "You are... preparing to bathe?"
"Yes, I'm going to bathe. Please leave first!" Leng Yuanxiang said with a cold face.
"Xiang'er, why are you bathing now? Didn't the imperial physician say that you just had a miscarriage and should avoid water for a while?" Situ Chuanqiong became anxious.
"I'm using hot water. What's the big deal! Besides, if I don't wash soon, I feel like I'm going to stink." Leng Yuanxiang was a modern woman and didn't believe in such feudal dregs!
"Little Xiang'er, if you feel uncomfortable, you can ask the midwives and maids to help you wipe yourself. For now, it's best to follow the doctor's orders and not bathe, okay?" Situ Chuanqiong still disagreed and took it upon himself to order his accompanying guards to empty the tub.
Leng Yuanxiang understood that Situ Chuanqiong was doing this for her own good. However, she was already angry with him because of the loss of her child and the matter with Qin Mingzhu. Now, she also found this man superstitious and bossy.
With a double dose of displeasure, her anger finally erupted. "I don't need you to manage me! Why are you so nosy? I want to take a bath now, and I'll do whatever I want! This is my body, and I know what I'm doing. You, you stinking man, get out!"
Hearing these words, Situ Chuanqiong's anger flared up. "It seems I've been too lenient with you in the past, which is why you're becoming more and more disrespectful!"
"What rules! I hate it most when you're full of rules, and when you say 'it's not the right time.' What else can you do besides telling me to endure, not to attract attention, and to not do this and not do that? I'm very angry right now and really don't want to see you!" Leng Yuanxiang began to raise her voice.
Moreover, the commotion here had attracted the attention of the patrolling house guards. Situ Chuanqiong heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from a distance.
He wanted to say more, but he heard another of his guards say, "Your Majesty, it will be difficult to explain when more people arrive. You came privately today, and we don't have many men with us. To be safe, it's best to withdraw first!"
"Xiang'er, I will come to find you again in a while!" Situ Chuanqiong nodded and then, along with his guards, disappeared into the night...
A month had passed since Situ Chuanqiong's night visit to Leng Yuanxiang's boudoir.
Many things had happened during this month, leaving Situ Chuanqiong, who had planned to see Leng Yuanxiang again in a few days, no time to do so.
This was because three days after his return, the Pengxi Kingdom began to stir again.
In the imperial court, officials lined up and paid homage.
"Your Majesty, Magistrate Zhu on the border has sent several pleas for help. They are about to fall," an official stepped forward and said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please send reinforcements quickly! The ruler of Pengxi Kingdom is going too far!" another official said indignantly.
The other officials present also began to whisper among themselves.
"When the Great General of Zhenguo repelled them before, wasn't it agreed that there would be no invasion for ten years?" an official in the back row asked the one next to him in a low voice.
"Hush, keep your voice down. Don't let His Majesty hear," the official glanced around before replying, "They must have known that the Chu family is no longer alive, and these barbarians are breaking the treaty."
"It's a pity that the Chu family betrayed the country. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to fear this small Pengxi Kingdom now," the official who asked the question first said with some regret.
"Actually, about this betrayal... the Chu family has been loyal through generations... it's hard to say!" the official hesitated to speak.
"You mean..." The two officials exchanged glances and understood each other.