Chapter 82

Forced by Little A to absorb a large amount of memories, Yan Yiming roughly remembered the Prince of Jiangxia’s high regard for this daughter, as well as the key nobles she would need to interact with on her way to the capital. As for the rest, it was mainly left to the pale-faced scholar-like official accompanying her.
The scholar was thin and frail with a pale complexion, but he had a name that starkly contrasted with his appearance, Wei Xiongjie. According to Little A, he was the most promising young strategist by the Prince of Jiangxia’s side and had been specially assigned to accompany Yan Yiming to the capital.
Wei Xiongjie had told Yan Yiming that the emperor attached great importance to this marriage alliance, which was why he had sent a highly trusted minister to receive her.
Yan Yiming hadn’t expected that person to be Jiang Yi.
It was now the 53rd year of the Chenxia Dynasty, three years after her time as a female general. Though not as rapid as Shao Jingyu’s rise to the pinnacle of power in just two years, in the short span of five or six years, Jiang Yi had already reached the third rank. Civil officials differed from military officers, and this demonstrated Jiang Yi’s ability as well as the emperor’s trust in him.
In her memories, Jiang Yi was still the young man from back then. Now, clad in purple robes, he exuded nobility and composure, completely different from her recollections.
Yan Yiming felt a moment of surprise, but her expression quickly returned to normal. With most of her face hidden behind the veil, no trace of her emotions was visible.
No matter what had happened back then, it was all in the past and had nothing to do with her anymore. What she needed to do now was quickly push the storyline to its conclusion and return to the present world.
A quick calculation told her she had already spent nearly eight years in this game space. Many memories of the real world had even begun to fade.
This made Yan Yiming increasingly eager to return to the familiar world as soon as possible.
Yan Yiming, dignified and aloof, gave a slight nod and a simple “Mm,” maintaining the decorum befitting a princess. Only after Wei Xiongjie stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with Jiang Yi did Yan Yiming feign a hint of surprise and praise:
“So it's Lord Jiang. I've long heard of your reputation.”
Nowadays, everyone said that in civil affairs, Jiang Yi was unparalleled, and in military matters, Shao Jingyu reigned supreme. Their fame resounded far and wide. Yan Yiming’s timely compliment did not seem out of place at all. However, after she finished speaking, Wei Xiongjie beside her suddenly glanced at her for some unknown reason. Yan Yiming turned her head, slightly puzzled.
Jiang Yi smiled and replied, “Your Highness flatters me,” then shifted his gaze away from Yan Yiming’s face.
He had been only seventeen when he topped the imperial examinations as the top scholar. Now, at twenty-three, seven years had already passed.
Back then, after A’Ming left, he fell into deep depression and took a long time to slowly recover.
Since A’Ming’s death, he had neither taken a wife nor a concubine. Everyone around him said he was profoundly devoted, and even the emperor said the same. But only he himself knew what he had done and what he had missed.
A regret and guilt that would never fade, even now, upon waking from dreams, he would still recall the overwhelming whiteness of that first snowfall at the Jiang residence.
Some said that with time, even the face one desperately tried to remember would gradually blur. Yet seven years had passed, and her features had only grown clearer in his mind. He remembered her glass-like indifferent eyes, her snow-like complexion, and the striking red mole at the corner of her eye.
Just like the touch of red at the corner of this woman’s eye before him.
Though it was only a slight resemblance, his thoughts surged with waves of emotion in an instant, and a faint bitterness welled up in his heart. Jiang Yi maintained his composure, shifted his gaze, and invited Yan Yiming and the others to rest in the garden. He added that if the princess was interested, she could stay in Hangzhou for a few days.
Wei Xiongjie spoke up, “Since Lord Jiang has kindly invited us, then naturally, “
Before he could finish, Yan Yiming interrupted, “No need.”
Wei Xiongjie abruptly turned to look at Yan Yiming. Her gaze was cold, her expression indifferent. “We’ll rest tonight and set off tomorrow.”
With that, she gave a slight nod to Jiang Yi and signaled to the maid who had come to greet them to lead the way directly to their accommodations.
“The princess is quite straightforward,” Jiang Yi remarked calmly to Wei Xiongjie.
“Yes, she has always been like that,” Wei Xiongjie replied with a smile, withdrawing his gaze. “It’s just a pity, Hangzhou is at its most beautiful right now.”
He had not wanted her to enter the capital so soon, hoping to delay it day by day. But she was an exceedingly obedient daughter, firmly keeping her father’s words in mind.
Hangzhou’s scenery was beautiful, and there would be plenty of time to enjoy it after returning. Yan Yiming had no intention of lingering any longer. Besides, if she were to stay and sightsee, Jiang Yi would inevitably accompany her.
Yan Yiming was reluctant to have any further entanglement with these four men, especially Jiang Yi.
Of the four, Jiang Yi was the one she had spent the most time with. Those four years were also the most relaxed and authentic period of all her strategic pursuits. With the others, there was often an element of performance, but with Jiang Yi, aside from the deliberate kindness she showed him, everything else was her truest self.
Among them, Jiang Yi was the cleverest of them all, even the slightest clue might allow him to detect traces of something.
Yan Yiming could easily bluff and deceive in front of Nan Gongxuan, but she dared not play tricks before Jiang Yi. In the final stretch, she only sought to complete her mission peacefully and steadily. If she were recognized, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary complications.
Earlier, Little A had asked her why she didn’t take the opportunity to get closer to Jiang Yi. Once she gained his trust, wouldn’t it be the perfect time to inform him of the Prince of Jiangxia’s schemes?
Yan Yiming tapped Little A’s simple mechanical brain, exasperated. “Before I can even build a good relationship with him, I’d end up trapped in my own mess.”
Her current identity was that of the Prince of Jiangxia’s daughter, one of the conspirators plotting with Chancellor Jian to restore the kingdom. To openly tell Jiang Yi that she wasn’t a good person would be treating him like a fool.
“Then what should we do?”
Little A was puzzled. Its mechanical brain could only process the simplest of problems. Since the first step now was to make Jiang Yi aware of Chancellor Jian’s rebellious intentions, it couldn’t think of any other way besides telling him directly.
“We’ll go along with their plan and steer it subtly.”
The Prince of Jiangxia had sent her to align with Chancellor Jian, so she could become an unpredictable element in the alliance between the Prince of Jiangxia and Chancellor Jian. To put it bluntly, she would act as a troublemaker.
All she needed to do was, while carrying out the original plan to advance Chancellor Jian’s “kingdom restoration” scheme, “accidentally” make one or two deliberate mistakes. This would not only sabotage Chancellor Jian’s conspiracy but also intentionally expose hints of their small schemes to catch Jiang Yi’s attention.
If she could execute this flawlessly, that would be ideal. If the Prince of Jiangxia or Jiang Yi noticed, the former would only lament that his daughter was too young and inexperienced for such a heavy responsibility, while the latter would assume she was foolish and had carelessly revealed the truth.
No one would believe that the Prince of Jiangxia’s own daughter would betray him.
By playing the villain to the very end, even if she ended up sacrificing herself heroically for the sake of “restoring the kingdom,” it wouldn’t be such a bad outcome. In fact, it might even be for the best.
Because as long as she stood in opposition to the male protagonists, they would never realize she was the former crown princess/lover/unwed wife, and so on. This would ensure her safety while guaranteeing her return to the present world.
Little A finally understood Yan Yiming’s meaning and thought to itself how cunning humans were. Its simple and kind mechanical mind couldn’t unravel such intricate schemes. Before it could finish its silent criticism, its host asked again, “What’s the deal with that Wei Xiongjie?”
It wasn’t that Yan Yiming was overthinking things, her intuition was extremely sharp. Although that pretty-faced man had tried to restrain himself, she had still detected a hint of something unusual in the way he looked at this princess.
Sure enough, Little A suddenly remembered and said, “Ah, I almost forgot, Wei Xiongjie has always had a crush on Princess Ming, but Ming Yiyan never paid him any attention. So, Host, you don’t need to worry at all.”
Yan Yiming let out an “Oh,” then suddenly realized something. What in the world?
“Ming Yiyan?”
Little A proudly declared, “Host, you said it wouldn’t do to keep calling you Yan Yiming, so I came up with a clever solution. If you reverse Yan Yiming, doesn’t it become Ming Yiyan? It keeps your name authentic while preventing others from figuring it out. Am I not brilliant?”
Yan Yiming: “...”
She could see right through this pun. Yan Yiming didn’t think the name was particularly safe and could only hope nothing went wrong.
By evening, the governor of Hangzhou had prepared a grand feast in Yan Yiming’s honor. Dressed in splendid attire, she arrived fashionably late, only to run into Jiang Yi along the way.
Yan Yiming suddenly noticed the jade pendant hanging from Jiang Yi’s waist. It looked familiar, but what caught her attention most was the slightly faded silk tassel attached to it, which starkly contrasted with his luxurious new robe.
Without a change in expression, Yan Yiming averted her gaze and met Jiang Yi’s eyes with a faint smile.
Although the banquet was held under the pretense of welcoming Princess Ming, the governor’s attention was clearly fixed on Jiang Yi. Yan Yiming was more than happy to enjoy her own peace.
Sensing the awkwardness of her presence as the only woman among the guests, Yan Yiming tactfully excused herself early. Not long after she left, Wei Xiongjie hurried over. After glancing around to ensure no one else was nearby, he lowered his voice and asked,
“Has Your Highness decided on a plan to extricate yourself once in the capital?”
Yan Yiming was momentarily taken aback. Little A quickly reminded her, and only then did she grasp the situation.
Prince of Jiangxia had sent her to the capital under the guise of marrying her off to Nan Gongxuan, but in reality, he intended for her to secretly approach either Chancellor Jian or Jian Yuyan, with the ultimate goal of marrying her to Jian Yuyan.
Thus, the matter of marrying the Crown Prince was merely a cover.
Originally, Princess Ming had confidently assured Prince of Jiangxia that she would handle the situation herself and needed no interference. Trusting his daughter completely, the prince had left the matter in her hands. Now, as they drew closer to the capital, Yan Yiming had yet to mention the plan, while Wei Xiongjie grew increasingly anxious.
Regardless of Wei Xiongjie’s intentions, this matter was not his to meddle in. Frowning slightly, Yan Yiming replied with a hint of displeasure, “I will handle this matter. There’s no need for you to concern yourself, Lord Wei.”
“But, “
“Lord Wei, you’ve overstepped,” Yan Yiming said coolly, unaware that her demeanor at that moment mirrored that of the former Commandant Yan.
Though her words were mild, they sent a chill down Wei Xiongjie’s spine. He stared blankly at the aloof woman before him, sensing an inexplicable aura of authority that seemed far more pronounced than before.
As Yan Yiming turned and walked away, Wei Xiongjie stood in place for a long while before dejectedly heading back. Unexpectedly, he encountered Jiang Yi along the way, someone who should have been in the main hall.
Jiang Yi nodded slightly at him as if he had seen nothing, but Wei Xiongjie broke out in a cold sweat.
Because the path Jiang Yi had just taken was exactly the same as his own.
And yet, moments earlier, he hadn’t noticed Jiang Yi’s presence at all.