"Cao Yan, tell me, is the Ninth Prince truly taken with the girl from the Pei family?"
The Yongzhao Emperor watched the Ninth Prince as he walked away, his eyes gleaming with sharp intensity.
Eunuch Cao chuckled softly and replied with a feigned air of ease, "Your Majesty, the Pei girl is both talented and beautiful. It is only natural that the Ninth Prince would be fond of her."
The Yongzhao Emperor turned to look at the eunuch, his smile failing to reach his eyes. "Do you dare to say the Ninth Prince isn't targeting the Pei family itself?"
"Er..." Eunuch Cao hesitated for a moment, then added with a sycophantic smile, "As for what His Highness is thinking, this old servant dare not speculate."
"Old fox!" The Yongzhao Emperor pointed a finger at Eunuch Cao, his expression one of disdain.
The Emperor then gazed into the distance and muttered to himself, "These princes of mine—not one of them is easy to deal with."
"The Pei family is not something they should be coveting!"
***
Duke Xiang’s Estate.
Pei Tianlin stood on the outer corridor of the third floor of Qinyun Tower, overlooking the scenery of Jin Garden below.
Jin Garden was the largest garden in the Duke Xiang’s Estate, filled with pavilions, rockeries, waterscapes, lush greenery, and winding, secluded paths—every detail reflecting the ingenious design of its creator.
The entire garden resembled a masterful painting, breathtaking in its beauty.
Usually, looking out over the view of Jin Garden always put Pei Tianlin at ease. Today, however, his brows were tightly furrowed, his mind clearly troubled.
"My Lord, Miss Yiqiu has arrived."
At the sound of the servant’s announcement from behind him, Pei Tianlin pulled himself from his thoughts and turned to face the newcomer.
"Yiqiu greets Grandfather!" Pei Yiqiu walked up to him and performed a formal bow.
Pei Tianlin nodded, his manner slightly awkward. "Yiqiu, the Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon you. You are to marry His Highness Prince Qing. I assume you have heard?"
Pei Yiqiu gave a slight nod.
She had already heard the news from her second brother, Pei Hong. Her initial reaction had been one of deep anger, but upon reflection, she realized she was in an ancient era where common people had no say in marriage, and decisions rested solely with their elders. For the daughters of princes and nobles, it was even more so; they were all merely tools for political marriage.
"Sigh..." Pei Tianlin sighed heavily. "I did not want this, but the Emperor is already suspicious of the Pei family. I had no other choice."
"Can you understand your grandfather's predicament?"
Pei Yiqiu pondered for a moment, then looked up and met Pei Tianlin’s eyes. She said solemnly, "Grandfather, I understand your predicament, but I cannot agree with your decision."
Pei Tianlin was taken aback. He had not expected such a display of firmness from his usually gentle and obedient granddaughter.
After steadying himself, he frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Pei Yiqiu’s expression softened as she explained, "Grandfather, while the Pei family's attitude plays a part, what the Emperor truly fears is our strength! The fact that he ordered us to capture the Beiyi spies this time shows that my marriage to Prince Qing has not dispelled his suspicions. On the contrary, the power of the Pei family is a thorn in his side. What he truly wants is to weaken us!"
*Boom.*
Pei Tianlin felt as though he had been struck by lightning, his mouth agape. He had never imagined that his granddaughter would be able to pierce through to the Emperor's true intentions with a single remark.
He looked at Pei Yiqiu with a sense of awe, though a sense of melancholy soon followed. This granddaughter had been exceptionally bright since childhood, and she was his favorite among the third generation of the Pei family. He had often lamented in private how much better it would have been had she been a boy. That regret now felt heavier than ever.
"You are right," Pei Tianlin nodded with great difficulty, looking despondent. "I thought that agreeing to the Emperor's marriage decree would dispel his suspicions about us. It seems I was too naive. The Emperor is likely preparing to make his move against the Pei family."
"As for your marriage..." Pei Tianlin looked at Pei Yiqiu and sighed apologetically. "The Emperor has already spoken. I fear that cannot be changed."
"Not necessarily!"
Pei Yiqiu’s words were resolute, causing Pei Tianlin’s heart to skip a beat. "Do you have a way to make the Emperor rescind the decree?"
"I don't have a plan just yet," Pei Yiqiu shook her head slightly, then continued, "However, we can stall for now. When the opportunity arises, we will find a way to have the Emperor cancel it."
Pei Tianlin nodded. "Prince Qing surely won't be able to catch any of the spies in this trial. The Emperor has long intended to discipline him; I suspect he will be spending some time in the Imperial Clan Court."
He paused, then asked with some hesitation, "Yiqiu, are you certain you don't want to be linked with Prince Qing? Your grandfather doesn't think Prince Qing is as incompetent as the rumors suggest." The quick-witted and decisive manner displayed by Prince Qing yesterday was certainly not something a useless person could achieve!
Pei Yiqiu firmly refused, "Grandfather, the fact that the Emperor is forcing this marriage proves one thing: he has already excluded Prince Qing from the line of succession!"
At these words, Pei Tianlin's eyes brightened, and he nodded in deep agreement. He then looked at Pei Yiqiu with a deep, contemplative gaze, marveling inwardly. Even though Prince Qing had no chance at the throne, he was still a prince. To look down upon even a prince—his granddaughter’s ambitions were not small!
What Pei Tianlin did not know was that the Pei Yiqiu before him was no longer his granddaughter. Having traveled here from the future, she had her own ambitions. She would not be reduced to a tool for political strife in this era. She would fight for her own freedom! In a feudal dynasty, absolute power was the only path to absolute freedom.
***
Sunset, Prince Qing’s Estate.
After dinner, Zhao Yi summoned Chief Xu and handed him the character he had copied from the note the previous night.
"Chief Xu, do you recognize which country this script belongs to?"
Chief Xu was bewildered, failing to understand why the Prince had called him over just to identify a character. Nevertheless, he took the paper and glanced at it.
"This..." After a moment of rumination, Chief Xu frowned. "This appears to be from the Huolu kingdom."
"Huolu?" Zhao Yi looked puzzled.
Assuming the Prince was ignorant of the matter, Chief Xu began to explain, "The Huolu are a people from the northern steppes. They are mostly nomadic, naturally combative, and barbaric. However, ever since their new king ascended to the throne—"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing that Chief Xu was about to go on a long-winded tangent, Zhao Yi cut him off. He then asked impatiently, "Do you know what this character means?"
"This... the official does not know." Chief Xu cupped his hands.
*If you don't know, why all the chatter!* Zhao Yi’s face darkened.
"Then do you know of anyone who can read Huolu script?" Zhao Yi asked, suppressing his irritation.
Chief Xu thought for a moment and replied, "The Court of State Ceremonial handles foreign affairs; surely someone there would know. Also, there is the Hu market at Baining Ward, where foreign merchants trade. Many Huolu people go there to do business."
Hearing this, Zhao Yi’s eyes flickered, and he made a plan.
After gathering the information, Zhao Yi stood up and headed for the door. Chief Xu chased after him, asking, "Your Highness, it is already dark. Where are you going?"
"Xiaoyue Pavilion!" Zhao Yi declared righteously.
Hearing this, Chief Xu slapped his thigh and cried out in pain, "Your Highness, how can you keep frequenting such a place of vice night after night!"
"I enjoy it—is that any of your business?"
Zhao Yi walked away with his hands behind his back, never looking back.
"Sigh..." Chief Xu could only let out a long, helpless sigh behind him.