Since Nanny Ge returned to the Palace that day, there had been no movement from Concubine Mei. Only Madam Mei was worried and secretly sent someone to the General’s Residence for news. She felt relieved when she learned that Chu Xinian was still safe.
Chu Xinian was not only safe; he was as comfortable as a fish in water. Xie Jingyuan didn’t seem to care much. As long as Chu Xinian didn’t cause any major disturbances, the other party would likely turn a blind eye.
For instance… creating a box of ants?
Considering the weather hadn’t yet warmed up, ants weren’t very active. It took Chu Xinian a lot of effort to catch a few dozen of them, as he didn’t know where to find a guinea pig.
Xie Jingyuan, still confined to his room due to the cold, observed Chu Xinian leaning out of the window from the corner of his eye, wondering what he was doing.
Initially, he didn’t intend to pay attention to him, but his curiosity got the better of him. He set his book aside slightly and silently observed.
With a brush dipped in honey, Chu Xinian drew a line across the window frame and placed five ants at the starting point. The ants hesitated for a moment before following the honey trail, crawling slowly into the room. However, when they were about to enter the room, they abruptly changed direction and went elsewhere.
Small animals possessed a keen sense of touch and seemed to recognize the room as exceptionally dangerous.
Chu Xinian entered the room under Xie Jingyuan’s watchful gaze, retrieved the incense ball hanging above the bed, tucked it into his sleeve, and instructed the servants brought from the Marquis of Quyang Manor to remove all incense burners, incense pots, and flower arrangements from the room. The inner room was emptied in no time.
Xie Jingyuan’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Chu Xinian, do you plan to rebel?”
Standing by the window, Chu Xinian lowered his head and played with the ants in the box using his fingertips. He lowered his gaze, smiled, and replied, “Today’s weather is perfect for airing them out. Those items were cold, and it’s good to have them exposed to the sun.”
Furthermore, it was Xie Jingyuan who contemplated rebellion, not Chu Xinian.
Xie Jingyuan tossed his book aside and said with a wry smile, appearing “well-meaning,” “What exactly are you up to? Tell me, and this General can assist you.”
He donned a mask during the day, concealing half of his face from view, well-shielded to avoid exposure to the scorching sun and prying eyes.
Chu Xinian was a meticulous man and wouldn’t speak recklessly until his internal suspicions were confirmed. He simply stated, “I’m just sunbathing.”
He was waiting for the room’s odors to dissipate while standing by the window, basking in the warm sunlight. He appeared like a jade carving, resembling a retired immortal. It was a mystery why he feigned himself as a useless individual.
Silently stepping forward, Yun Que pretended to be on standby while handing over the tea. In a hushed tone, she informed Chu Xinian, “My Lord, I’ve gathered all the information.”
Having spent several days washing Aunt Wang’s laundry in the backyard, she had ingratiated herself to the point where Aunt Wang was nearly treating her as a goddaughter. During their casual conversations, she had also unearthed various secrets about the mansion.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Chu Xinian accepted the tea and gazed at Xie Jingyuan as he spoke to Yun Que, “Please, tell me.”
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It wouldn’t be surprising if the military list was hidden in Yuhen Pavilion.
Remnants of scars, remnants of hatred…
Chu Xinian contemplated these words, savoring their multifaceted implications. With the room’s scent almost dissipated, he introduced three more ants, and this time, they followed the honey trail into the room.
At some point, Xie Jingyuan appeared by the window, draped in a black robe, occasionally coughing. He wondered what Chu Xinian was doing, believing it to be something intriguing, only to discover that it was just ants.
“You’ve still got the heart of a child,” Xie Jingyuan remarked, his expression displaying both amusement and mild condescension.
Chu Xinian chuckled softly upon seeing some unsuspecting ants carrying honey along the window frame. It reminded him of Yun Que’s revelation about Xie Jingyuan’s room change. He laughed lightly but then realized he needed to be cautious, so he suppressed it. Nevertheless, a glint of amusement lingered in his eyes.
The corners of Xie Jingyuan’s mouth twitched. “What’s so amusing?”
Xie Jingyuan finally comprehended that standard tactics wouldn’t intimidate Chu Xinian. A subtle curiosity gleamed in his eyes as he walked away from the wall and returned to his bed. He continued reading his military book.
Chu Xinian resumed his experiments. He retrieved the aromatic ball from his sleeve, ordered it to be hung back in the room, and then introduced the ants. However, this time, they entered without any issues.
In the end, only the flower arrangement remained.
But what could possibly be wrong with a flower arrangement?
Chu Xinian conducted one final experiment, placing only the flower arrangements in the room. Surprisingly, the ants still crawled in.
From his previous experiments, it was apparent that the combination of all three or both had toxic effects, while they were non-toxic individually.
Could it be a mixed poison?
Chu Xinian was astonished; he hadn’t expected to encounter such an advanced poison in ancient times. He began drafting his first research manuscript in this dynasty. As he prepared for a second elimination experiment, a guard suddenly rushed in, knelt, and reported to Xie Jingyuan, “General, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Chu Xinian’s pupils constricted upon hearing those words. The Crown Prince?
Throughout history, emperors had numerous sons. In the current dynasty, Emperor Taizong’s reign was no different. However, only a select few possessed the qualifications and abilities to vie for the throne. Crown Prince Yin Chenghao, born to the first Empress, held the position of heir apparent and was the eldest son. He should have been the most favored candidate for the throne. Nevertheless, since the Empress’s death, his behavior had grown increasingly reckless and erratic, and his talents were unimpressive, which didn’t endear him to the Emperor.
In later years, the failed rebellion led to Yin Chenghao’s direct imprisonment in the Eastern Palace. On the day of the new Emperor’s ascension, he was executed by hanging and given the burial rites of an Imperial Prince.
Just before Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan’s wedding, the Crown Prince was sentenced to three months of confinement for poor performance. As the days counted down, his release was imminent. However, he hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to visit the General’s Manor directly.
Not good timing…
Xie Jingyuan shared the same sentiment as Chu Xinian. He furrowed his brows, set aside his book, and stood up, saying, “Escort His Royal Highness to Yuhen Pavilion. I’ll join you later.”
Seeing this, Chu Xinian temporarily abandoned his experiment and concealed his intentions with a friendly smile, “Since the Crown Prince is here in person, I will accompany the General in welcoming His Royal Highness.”
In the Tang Dynasty, one couldn’t overlook the heroism of Emperor Taizong and the elegance of Li Bai; in the Qin Dynasty, one couldn’t ignore the ambition of the First Emperor and the treachery of Zhao Gao. While the Great Yan Dynasty was fictional, Chu Xinian found every character intriguing. If possible, he’d like to meet and study them all.
Xie Jingyuan paused, narrowing his eyes as he asked, “Why do you wish to accompany us?”
Chu Xinian responded confidently, “It’s a matter of serving courteously, as one should as a servant.”
Chu Xinian seemed oblivious to the sensitivity of his identity, considering the enmity between the Crown Prince and Prince Jin.
Recalling the Crown Prince’s impulsive temperament, Xie Jingyuan furrowed his brow and inquired, “Why should I bring you along?”
Chu Xinian could always find countless reasons that left people speechless. Dressed in white, he relaxed his expression and offered a slight smile, “Since the General has married me, we are united. Whatever we do, we should do together.”
Being wedded to a man as his wife was a humiliation for Xie Jingyuan in this life. Instead of getting angry, he laughed and suddenly grabbed Chu Xinian by the neck, pressing him against the wall. The cold mask scraped against his ear, making him feel like he was walking on a razor’s edge. “What… Do you mean that if I face doom in the future, I should drag you down with me? Hmm?”
Frankly, he hadn’t fully comprehended the depths of darkness until now, nor what the System meant by “bringing it down.” The only certainty was that what the System was saying was like some kind of noxious gas, foul and ineffectual.
Unhurriedly, Chu Xinian followed him as they walked. He observed discreetly and realized that there was a guard every five steps and a sentry every ten, confirming that the security was tighter than a drum. It was no wonder Chu Jiaoping couldn’t obtain the military list.
When Xie Jingyuan arrived at Yuhen Pavilion, the Crown Prince was already waiting inside. As he ascended the steps, he glanced at Chu Xinian, saying in a cold tone, “If you offend the Crown Prince, I won’t plead for mercy.”
His words revealed much, indicating that the Crown Prince held disdain for the Quyang Marquis Manor and had unfavorable sentiments toward Prince Jin’s faction, which included Chu Xinian.
“In that case, I’ll have to accept my fate,” Chu Xinian replied calmly, showing no fear.
[Crown Prince Yin Chenghao, the firstborn son of Emperor Yan by the late Empress Liu, was known for his impulsive and reckless nature in his youth. As an adult, he grew even more impetuous, failing to distinguish between loyalty and foolishness, indulging in gambling and debauchery.
In the twenty-eighth year of the Qisheng era, the Crown Prince, in a reckless bid to seize power, conspired against his brothers and attempted to overthrow the Emperor. However, he was apprehended by Prince Jin in front of the Tai’an Gate. Incensed, Emperor Yan stripped him of his title and confined him to the Eastern Palace.
In the winter of the thirty-fifth year of the Qisheng era, Emperor Yan passed away, and a new Emperor ascended the throne. The deposed Crown Prince Yin Chenghao was hanged and buried in the Imperial Mausoleum.]
This was what Chu Xinian thought when he saw the man in the bright yellow robe sitting in the study. Upon realizing this, he adjusted his robes and greeted along with Xie Jingyuan, “Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yin Chenghao had never seen Chu Xinian before, so upon seeing him, he instinctively rose from his seat, assuming that Xie Jingyuan had brought an exceptional expert or talent. However, upon hearing Chu Xinian’s introduction, he couldn’t hide his disappointment. It appeared that Chu Xinian was not as exceptional as he had hoped but rather an adversary. He sat back down and inquired in a curious tone, “Are you Chu Xinian?”
From Prince Jin’s faction?
Chu Xinian stood tall, affirming, “Indeed, I am.”
Yin Chenghao had heard the rumor that Chu Xinian had eloped with a courtesan on his wedding day, abandoning General Xie. He inquired with a touch of hostility, “I heard that you ran off with a courtesan on your wedding day, leaving General Xie behind.”
Chu Xinian glanced at Xie Jingyuan, waiting for his response.
Xie Jingyuan was already seated, his head resting lazily as if he were enjoying a show.
Chu Xinian remained composed, “Of course not. On the day of our wedding, I was abducted, and I had no control over the situation. It wasn’t a deliberate act.”
Yin Chenghao waved his hand dismissively, “Whether it was deliberate or not, it’s not my concern. I plan to appeal to the Emperor to annul this marriage, and you can return to Quyang Manor.”
Chu Xinian found Yin Chenghao’s impulsiveness and recklessness rather foolish. To openly voice such intentions demonstrated his lack of political acumen. As for the idea of appealing to the Emperor to annul the marriage, it was equally absurd.
This marriage wasn’t solely orchestrated by Concubine Mei’s schemes; the Emperor had played a significant role in it.
Compared to the original plot, the Crown Prince’s character seemed to have held up. With this realization, Chu Xinian achieved his goal and added, “Your Highness is right. I shall take my leave.”
Yin Chenghao felt a sense of satisfaction with his quick thinking. Finally, someone less troublesome had joined Prince Jin’s faction. “Very well, go ahead.”
As Chu Xinian walked out the door, he instinctively looked back and saw Xie Jingyuan gazing at him. However, he closed the door nonchalantly.
The courtyard, filled with lush greenery and broad tree shadows, was adorned with ripe fruits scattered on the ground. Chu Xinian descended the steps, gazing up at the sun and squinting. He wondered why Xie Jingyuan, who possessed military power, would choose a reckless Crown Prince over someone loyal.
Perhaps… during the Xie Family’s sentence to death in the past, only Crown Prince Yin Chenghao had interceded for them within the court of civil and military officials, only Crown Prince Yin Chenghao asked for mercy…
damn 🥲 i already don’t like the crown prince lmao
thank u for the chapter!