Chapter 94

Jiang Yi knew far more than Yan Yiming had imagined, which surprised her but didn’t entirely catch her off guard. After all, even Little A had said that Jiang Yi’s intelligence was on a bug-like level.
After accidentally letting something slip earlier, Yan Yiming became extremely cautious with every word she spoke. Even Jiang Yi couldn’t detect any further flaws.
However, Jiang Yi didn’t press her aggressively. He didn’t ask about what Yan Yiming was unwilling to reveal. After listening to her explanation, he remarked, “So, from the very beginning, the Prince of Jiangxia ordered Princess Ming to enter the capital with her sights set on Jian Yuyan. The Crown Prince and the other princes were merely decoys to mislead everyone.”
“Yes,” Yan Yiming nodded. “That’s why I deliberately devised a plan to make the Crown Prince distance himself from me, so I could stay in the capital.”
At this, Jiang Yi suddenly laughed, recalling how the Crown Prince had once angrily scolded Princess Ming for her audacity in daring to compare herself to the Crown Princess. Little did he know that Princess Ming and the Crown Princess were, in fact, one and the same.
Jiang Yi was not only handsome but also exceptionally perceptive. As this thought crossed his mind, he glanced at Yan Yiming, whose expression remained calm and composed.
Everyone said the Crown Princess was deeply devoted to the Crown Prince, even taking a knife for him without regard for her own life. And the Crown Prince, for years after her death, had refused to take another official consort. Even the Emperor had praised such rare devotion. But now, it seemed it was all just an act, a carefully staged performance.
She had manipulated the Crown Prince’s single-minded affection, keeping him in the dark without leaving him the slightest chance. When she spoke of the Crown Prince, her beautiful face showed no trace of emotion.
She wasn’t moved by the Crown Prince’s actions, nor did she care in the slightest.
What about him, then?
If he, like the Crown Prince, had been kept in the dark, if he hadn’t uncovered the truth, would she have continued pretending they were strangers, never giving him another chance to know her again?
Yan Yiming remarked that it was fortunate the Crown Prince had never suspected, allowing everything to proceed so smoothly. Jiang Yi watched her quietly until she finished speaking before saying,
“Everyone says the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess shared a deep bond. I thought you might still care about the Crown Prince, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Yan Yiming raised her eyes to look at him; she could probably guess what Jiang Yi would say next.
She hadn't anticipated such a development back then, so she had left too many traces, leading to Jiang Yi recognizing her now. This was beyond Yan Yiming's predictions, but since it had already happened, she had to face it no matter what.
She admitted that she had been caught off guard by Jiang Yi's sudden appearance and had been momentarily flustered, but now she had sorted out her thoughts again.
Whether he recognized her or not, aside from a slight pang of guilt, it didn't really affect her much. And because she had always been a carefree person, rounding it off, it was practically no effect at all.
Jiang Yi would never guess that her only goal was to ensure the five protagonists lived safely and peacefully, all she wanted was to go home.
She didn't want this identity to have any further entanglement with them, not even with Jiang Yi, who had already recognized her.
“You're indeed mistaken,” Yan Yiming said. “I never cared about him, not back then, and even less so now. No matter who it was in the past, what's over is over. And now, I am only Princess Ming.”
Someone as clever as Jiang Yi didn't need things spelled out too clearly; how could he not understand her meaning?
Jiang Yi had to admit that, at this moment, he was so enraged he wanted to lock this woman by his side, to ensure she could never say such words again. There was no so-called past or present, and there was no such thing as not caring. He stood up, looking down at Yan Yiming from above.
Yan Yiming saw the near-mad fury in his eyes, noticed his thin lips pressed tightly together as he struggled to suppress his anger, and she took a slightly uneasy breath.
But in the end, Jiang Yi did nothing. He reached out and straightened her slightly disheveled collar. His cold fingers brushed against her skin, and Yan Yiming instinctively shrank her neck.
As if he hadn't heard what Yan Yiming had just said, his voice remained clear and pleasant as he spoke:
“It's getting late. I'll see you back.”
Jiang Yi didn't want to talk about it, and Yan Yiming saw no need to press the unfriendly topic further. She initially thought of saying she could go back on her own, but upon second thought, she knew it would be pointless, so she nodded without refusing.
When they arrived at the residence where she was staying, Wei Xiongjie came out to greet her upon hearing the announcement. The smile on his face froze when he saw Jiang Yi step out of the carriage. His eyes darted back and forth between the two several times before he forced a stiff smile and said, “Princess, how did you come back with Lord Jiang?”
Yan Yiming was afraid that Jiang Yi, in his stubbornness, might deliberately provoke Wei Xiongjie and cause unnecessary trouble. She was about to explain that they had met by chance when Jiang Yi answered first:
“I went out to enjoy the maple leaves and happened to run into the Princess,” Jiang Yi said with a light laugh. After offering this explanation, he glanced back at Yan Yiming. “I had a pleasant conversation with the Princess today. If there's a chance in the future, I will certainly pay another visit.”
Yan Yiming suddenly felt a tinge of shame, she had been judging a gentleman with the heart of a petty person. Given Jiang Yi’s conduct, he truly wouldn’t make things difficult for her in serious matters. She smiled and said, “You’re welcome,” but before she could finish her next sentence, Jiang Yi added:
“However, although Lord Wei is the princess’s confidant, there is still the matter of propriety between men and women. For him to reside in the same residence as the princess is both improper and unfair to Lord Wei. I am willing to petition His Majesty to find a separate residence for Lord Wei, lest others think we are neglecting him.”
Yan Yiming coughed lightly and declined the offer. Though she would have preferred Wei Xiongjie to be farther away, he was, after all, a trusted official sent by the Prince of Jiangxia, and she had to save face for him. Wei Xiongjie, his face dark, declared that he was the steward personally assigned to the princess by the Prince of Jiangxia and dared not trouble Lord Jiang.
Jiang Yi smiled and refrained from teasing Yan Yiming further. Finally bidding farewell, his slender figure gradually disappeared into the streets and alleys.
Yan Yiming wiped the smile from her face and turned to face Wei Xiongjie, whose expression remained grim. She sighed and walked into the residence. Wei Xiongjie followed her stiffly, his tone icy as he said, “I have repeatedly advised the princess not to go out alone, or at least to have a maid accompany her. Many in the capital are watching you, it’s not as safe as you think. If anything were to happen, how could I explain it to the prince? That Lord Jiang deliberately approached you, and yet…”
His words suddenly caught in his throat as he stared in disbelief at the fair skin of Yan Yiming’s neck, rooted to the spot.
Yan Yiming glanced sideways at him, puzzled by his red-eyed, furious expression. “What’s wrong?”
Wei Xiongjie had never married, but he recognized the red mark on Yan Yiming’s neck for what it was. Trembling with rage, he glared at her and demanded, “What is that!”
“What is what?” It took Yan Yiming a moment to recall that, not long ago, Jiang Yi had bitten her neck in a fit of anger.
Had she not forgotten about it, she would have had Little A remove the mark. Now, faced with Wei Xiongjie, she felt awkward and unsure how to explain.
Inwardly cursing Jiang Yi for his inhumanity and failure to warn her, Yan Yiming maintained an expression of ignorance and glanced back at Wei Xiongjie. “What?”
“…Your neck…”
“What about my neck?” Yan Yiming feigned ignorance perfectly, casually touching her neck. “Where? Stop making a fuss. Let’s not waste time on trivial matters. With the Marquis of Dingbei dead, what exactly is Chancellor Jian planning?”
Yan Yiming’s expression showed no trace of panic. Wei Xiongjie stared at the red mark, wondering if it might be a mosquito bite from the maple grove.
The thought made him feel absurd. There was no reason for the princess to deceive him, and no one could possibly have taken liberties with her. The only person she had been with earlier was Jiang Yi. Although he sensed that Jiang Yi’s attitude toward the princess was somewhat unusual, he would never dare to be so disrespectful.
With this realization, he calmed down and began discussing the current situation with Yan Yiming.
With the Marquis of Dingbei dead, the 100,000 imperial guards in the capital were no longer under Chancellor Jian’s control. This undoubtedly stripped the Chancellor of his greatest reliance in the capital. Given Chancellor Jian’s nature, he would never accept this without a fight.
The emperor had already issued an edict summoning Shao Jingyu back to the capital to take command of the Imperial Guard and the hundreds of thousands of naval troops. However, the journey from the northwest to Jinling was long. It would take at least four months for the decree to reach the northwest and for Shao Jingyu to return to the capital. During these four months, someone else would temporarily hold the position of Guard General.
Shao Jingyu had achieved multiple victories in his campaigns, and now the northerners sang his praises. Even the Mongol army trembled at the mere mention of his name, a testament to the threat he posed. Chancellor Jian was particularly wary of him.
If Shao Jingyu were to return to Jinling and take command, the southern troops, mostly idle soldiers living off imperial provisions, would be of little concern. However, the 100,000 elite cavalry Shao Jingyu would bring back from the northwest were like bloodthirsty demons. His return would not only ensure Jinling’s safety but also block Prince of Jiangxia’s army from advancing northward.
Even if someone were to assassinate the emperor, Shao Jingyu could retaliate and take their life in the next moment.
Therefore, all plans had to be moved up, before Shao Jingyu’s return to the capital.
Before Shao Jingyu’s arrival, the Imperial Guard had to be brought under control, the palace stormed to force the Nan family to abdicate, and Jian Yuyan’s true identity revealed to the world. With Jian Yuyan successfully ascending the throne, all strategic passes would be opened for Prince of Jiangxia, effectively barring Shao Jingyu from entering Jinling.
If successful, not a single member of the Nan family in the capital would be spared. The only regret was Prince Yue, Nan Gongye, who guarded Beiping.
He remained a troublesome obstacle.
After listening to Wei Xiongjie’s report, Yan Yiming thought to herself that Shao Jingyu’s fearsome reputation was indeed formidable, forcing Chancellor Jian to act hastily. Yet, since the Chancellor dared to make such a decisive move, he must have relied on substantial backing. After all, having schemed in the court for over twenty years, the extent of the Chancellor’s influence was something even Yan Yiming could not fully grasp.
But she was certain of one thing: the person temporarily holding the position of Guard General had already aligned himself with the Chancellor.
The climax of this drama had finally arrived. If Jian Yuyan could betray the Chancellor in this decisive battle and secure a chance to survive, then, once Nan Gongxuan officially ascended the throne, she could leave this world and return to her own life.
Yan Yiming took out a long-concealed letter from an envelope and handed it to a hidden guard who had long been prepared.
That night, Jian Yuyan finally received the letter that had passed through countless hands to reach him. The familiar handwriting brought tears to his eyes. After carefully reading its contents, he stood in the courtyard for a long time before burning the letter to ashes.
A few days later, Jiang Yi received a secret message from the most unexpected person. Staring at the name on the letter, his handsome brows furrowed deeply.
Such a dramatic reversal made him realize he had overlooked some crucial details.