Stunned, Zhou Wei faintly heard a cold sneer from Yao Yingying.
It suddenly occurred to him that he and Yao Mengtao had walked all the way from the front courtyard to the back residential quarters... no doubt the estate guards didn't dare show their faces!
Zhou Wei’s face turned an unsightly shade of livid, then flushed with embarrassment.
But as he watched Yao Yingying head toward the main courtyard, he recalled the words she had used to invite guests inside to restore his reputation.
*In the end, it’s just her way of backing down,* Zhou Wei thought with a mocking smirk, and he lifted his feet to follow her.
Today was his wedding day, after all; he had never heard of a bride and groom not sharing a bridal chamber!
……
Inside the carriage, Yao Mengtao clung to Zhou Qiming with delicate, practiced grace. Her eyes were tear-filled, her body seemingly boneless as she leaned into him.
Zhou Qiming, however, did not look at her. Instead, he turned to Yan Xiaoyu, who sat beside them looking as though he saw and heard nothing, and asked, "Xiaoyu, have you also experienced death and rebirth?"
At this question, Yao Mengtao’s entire body stiffened.
*Just how many people here have been reborn?!*
"Although it sounds absurd, I have indeed experienced such a thing. Fortunately, I have returned, and there is still an opportunity to set everything right."
Yan Xiaoyu maintained an air of calm composure.
Zhou Qiming was delighted. "I knew you were the most brilliant of them all!"
"With you here to help me scheme and plot, I shall surely seize the throne in this lifetime!"
"Tell me, how much do you know of your past life? Is there anything I am unaware of?"
Yan Xiaoyu cast a glance at Yao Mengtao. His expression remained unchanged, but Zhou Qiming understood his implication.
Yao Mengtao’s heart hammered for a split second. Should she reveal her own rebirth, or…
*No!* She absolutely could not let Zhou Qiming know she had also returned from the grave. If he found out about what she and Zhou Wei had done in their previous life...
Yao Mengtao fixed her almond eyes on Zhou Qiming, her expression one of curiosity mixed with a perfectly calculated amount of bewilderment.
"What are you two talking about? What 'opportunity to set things right'? Isn't the throne already destined for you, Crown Prince?"
Zhou Qiming lowered his gaze to look at her.
Yao Mengtao felt a flicker of fear. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve. "Don't look at me like that; I’m scared... I don't know why you’ve changed so much today, or what has come between us."
"But I know you are my husband. Here in Dashang, where everything is so unfamiliar, you are all I have... If you won't protect me, then I..."
In a few short sentences, she sounded earnest and on the verge of tears.
Anyone unaware of the truth would find it hard to blame her.
Especially now, as she clung to him with her whole being, like a delicate pet cat afraid that he might discard her, and thus doing her absolute best to please him.
Zhou Qiming reached out to stroke her silky hair, appreciating her fear as if he were teasing a domestic animal.
"I know. I understand it all."
"As long as you are obedient, I will not make things difficult for you."
Secretly overjoyed, Yao Mengtao couldn't help but hug his waist tighter and sob softly.
"I thought you had listened to slanderous rumors and were going to cast me aside. I was so scared..."
A silent, cold smile touched the corners of Zhou Qiming’s mouth as he said in a gentle voice, "If I ever find proof that you have betrayed me, you will have much more to fear than just that."
Yao Mengtao caught the implication behind his words and shuddered violently.
"I... how could I ever betray you?"
Inside the carriage, Yan Xiaoyu, who had been keeping his eyes closed and ears tuned out, slightly raised his eyelids before lowering them again in satisfaction.
He knew Zhou Qiming hadn't forgiven Yao Mengtao; he simply realized that his reputation could not afford to be tarnished.
If there was truly something between Yao Mengtao and Zhou Wei, it must never happen again after today.
Therefore, a warning was essential. Only by making Yao Mengtao feel terrified could he avoid further trouble.
He might even be able to use her guilt and fear to force her—and Anguo—to choose to support Zhou Qiming’s path to the throne once more.
As this thought crossed his mind, Yan Xiaoyu suddenly paused.
He felt as though he had overlooked something very important.
But before he could dwell on it, the carriage slowed to a stop, and a young eunuch’s thin voice prompted from outside: "Crown Prince, Lord Yan, we have arrived at the East Gate of the Imperial Palace."
The group disembarked. Yan Xiaoyu bowed to see Zhou Qiming and Yao Mengtao off as they switched to a palanquin. Only then did he turn to return to his own carriage.
It was at that moment that the young eunuch who had been standing with his head bowed at the palace gate suddenly stepped forward. "Lord Yan, His Majesty requests an audience."
Yan Xiaoyu’s steps faltered. He looked back at the eunuch, his gaze clouded with distrust.
It was late; the Emperor should have been asleep long ago. Why would he call for him now?
Furthermore, any matters of state could surely wait until after the morning court session.
With Anguo having recently formed a marriage alliance with Dashang and no conflicts on the borders, what could possibly be so urgent?
The eunuch seemed to sense his doubt, but merely repeated, "Lord Yan, His Majesty has been waiting for quite some time."
By the light of the torches held by nearby soldiers, Yan Xiaoyu saw the eunuch's face and recognized him.
"You have been waiting here all this time. Why did you wait until the Crown Prince had departed before coming to inform me?"
The eunuch’s expression remained mask-like. "His Majesty gave orders that, when summoning you, it is best the Crown Prince does not know."
Yan Xiaoyu’s brow furrowed tightly.
What was the meaning of this?
The Crown Prince was the Emperor’s legitimate son and heir. Why would the Emperor need to hide a meeting with him from the Prince?
Yan Xiaoyu was confused, but he dared not be arrogant if the Emperor had truly summoned him. He decided to ask, "Does His Majesty summon me because there is unrest in one of the provinces?"
"Lord Yan thinks too highly of this servant; I do not know."
Having gained no information, Yan Xiaoyu had no choice but to enter the palace gate.
From that moment on, the sense of unease in his heart grew stronger.
He began to reflect on the events of the past few days, even mentally calculating potential issues within the Ministry of War.
Yet, amidst this uncertainty, Yan Xiaoyu was haunted by the meaningful look Yao Yingying had given him as he left Prince Jing’s Estate, and the words she had spoken...
—"Lord Yan, walk slowly."
But in truth, Yao Yingying had whispered one more thing.
Before that, Yan Xiaoyu had stepped forward to defend Zhou Qiming, bringing him face-to-face with Yao Yingying.
After she said that first sentence, she had leaned in and lowered her voice, speaking a second sentence that no one else heard.
She said: "How I hope that when I come to the palace to pay my respects tomorrow, Lord Yan will still be..."
Her captivating phoenix eyes and her stunningly beautiful face had been filled with the look of one who held absolute victory.
"...able to speak to me like that."
At the time, Yan Xiaoyu had simply felt that Yao Yingying was trying to seduce him.
She wanted to turn him into a scandalous paramour.
After all, he was a court official, and she was the Princess Consort of Prince Jing. By the time she arrived at the palace to pay her respects, he would have long since left his duties.
In this vast Capital, their statuses were so far apart that they could never have much interaction.
Let alone such a blatant declaration that she "looked forward" to seeing him again and talking to him.
He had concluded that she was simply too arrogant and full of herself, so he had signaled his disdain by remaining silent and walking away.
But now…