Chapter 96

Beauty clouds judgment.
Jiang Yi suddenly felt like laughing. Had the joy of discovering Yan Yiming was still alive clouded his mind so much that he missed such an obvious detail?
The Crown Prince often lamented to him that if Jian Yuyan hadn't been dragged down by a woman, he would surely be serving in the court just like him. Because of the Crown Prince's words, Jiang Yi had never underestimated Jian Yuyan.
So, for a man so highly regarded by the Crown Prince to drown himself in drunken stupor for four whole years over a woman showed just how deeply he valued that relationship. Everyone thought he would continue living alone, sinking into obscurity and decay. Little did they expect that four years later, Princess Ming would truly help him regain his footing.
Even the Crown Prince thought that Jian Yuyan had finally let go of the past and developed feelings for Princess Ming. Only Jiang Yi knew that the reason Jian Yuyan had reappeared in the public eye was still because of that woman from before. Yan Yiming cleverly used that woman to manipulate Jian Yuyan.
Now, recalling Jian Yu’er's address of “Miss A'Ming,” everything felt like a mockery, laughing at him once again.
Jian Yuyan was not foolish, in fact, he was quite intelligent. So why had Yan Yiming managed to pique his interest? Even if he had believed Yan Yiming's words initially, half a year had passed. How could he still be kept in the dark?
Unless Yan Yiming truly knew everything about Jian Yuyan and that actress, even possessing information about the woman's whereabouts and evidence compelling enough to threaten or convince Jian Yuyan. Yet Yan Yiming had clearly told him before that she was merely using a delaying tactic to hold Jian Yuyan back and hadn't actually found the woman.
Yan Yiming had deceived him again.
And he had actually believed her.
She was the one who knew that actress best, she knew all her whereabouts and information because she herself was the one Jian Yuyan had been unable to forget for four whole years.
Miss. A. Ming.
Everything seemed calm on the surface. Wei Xiongjie gestured for the maidservants around to withdraw before taking a seat in the chair opposite Yan Yiming. Yan Yiming casually poured him a cup of tea, and Wei Xiongjie's fair face immediately brightened with a smile, his voice softening considerably.
Wei Xiongjie took a piece of paper from his sleeve. Yan Yiming leaned in to take a look, it was a map of the capital.
Yan Yiming took the map. Compared to the hastily sketched one she had used when fighting alongside Shao Jingyu, this one was far more detailed, especially the layout of the imperial palace, which was remarkably precise.
On the day the Dingbei family was annihilated, Chancellor Jian had already sent messengers to the Liangguang region, urging Prince of Jiangxia to prepare to march north quietly a month later. Meanwhile, Chancellor Jian and his hidden agents in the capital would seize the royal family before Prince of Jiangxia officially raised his army.
Currently, the Imperial Guards were divided: the Commandant of the Southern Army guarded the palace, while the Commandant of the Northern Army garrisoned the capital. Previously, Cao Meng had been appointed General of Cavalry but was later demoted to a commoner. Marquis of Dingbei had taken over the position but was later executed along with his entire family. With Shao Jingyu yet to return, the position of General of Cavalry remained vacant, and the emperor decided to leave it open until Shao Jingyu's return. For now, the Commandants of the Southern and Northern Armies continued to manage the Imperial Guards separately.
The Commandant of the Northern Army was a subordinate of Marquis of Dingbei. With Marquis of Dingbei dead, he had already reached an agreement with Chancellor Jian. However, the Commandant of the Southern Army, who guarded the palace, was upright and incorruptible, leaving Chancellor Jian with no immediate way to deal with him. In the end, Chancellor Jian extended his influence to the Southern Army's subordinates, successfully conspiring with two deputy commandants to take control of the Southern Army.
Though the palace appeared calm on the surface, even the cautious Wei Xiongjie wore a smug smile. He chuckled lightly and said, “A month from now will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chancellor Jian has already decided: when the moon is full, it will be the end of the Nan clan.”
Yan Yiming appropriately showed a delighted expression and nodded. “His Majesty enjoys lively occasions, so he will surely hold a family banquet on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. He will definitely increase the guard, never expecting it would be like inviting a wolf into the house.”
“Exactly,” Wei Xiongjie said with a pleased look. “Once the emperor dies, we can announce Young Master Jian's identity to the world and issue an edict inviting the prince to the capital.”
At this point, Wei Xiongjie paused before asking, “As for Young Master Jian, are you confident, Princess?”
Of course, she was confident, just not in the way they imagined, Yan Yiming thought to herself.
Jian Yuyan had clearly revealed all of Chancellor Jian's secrets. Since Jiang Yi knew the weak points of the Chancellor, the emperor must be aware as well. Given Jiang Yi's temperament, he would not alert the enemy prematurely, so it was highly likely that on the day Chancellor Jian confidently attempted a coup, Jiang Yi would stage a dramatic reversal.
Chancellor Jian believed everything was under his control, but in reality, all his plans were already known to the emperor.
Yan Yiming recalled her visit to Jian Yuyan. His face remained as calm and exquisite as ever, leisurely painting and admiring the scenery, showing no trace of suspicion. When she arrived, he set down his brush and meaningfully dismissed the maids attending him.
Yan Yiming noticed this and deliberately brought up Prince of Jiangxia's recent preparations, reminding him not to forget their agreement once everything was accomplished.
Jian Yuyan waved his hand and assured her he wouldn't. The two of them exchanged words, each hiding their schemes, yet appearing as united as two grasshoppers tied to the same rope, truly a new generation of acting royalty.
Yan Yiming assured Wei Xiongjie that Jian Yuyan's side was stable, and only then did Wei Xiongjie feel at ease. He lingered a while longer, sipping two more cups of tea before reluctantly taking his leave.
Little A watched Wei Xiongjie depart and silently lit a candle for him in her heart. The young man wasn't a bad person, just born to be cannon fodder, utterly beyond saving.
Turning back, she saw Yan Yiming rubbing her eyes and casually asked what was wrong. Yan Yiming pulled at her eyelids and said, “Can you check if there's something in my eye?”
Little A examined her with his alloy-like eyes and scratched his head. “No, nothing. What's the matter?”
“My eyelid keeps twitching,” Yan Yiming said. And it was the right eyelid. She pressed it, but it still wouldn't stop. They say a twitching left eye brings wealth, while a twitching right eye brings disaster. Yan Yiming felt uneasy, as if something was wrong.
But everything was progressing as planned, what could possibly go wrong?
Perhaps she was overthinking it or not getting enough sleep lately. Yan Yiming comforted herself. In just one more month, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she could find an opportunity to slip away. Then, she would roam the mountains and rivers with Little A, free and at ease, waiting peacefully for the world to settle before successfully returning home.
And then she would settle scores with that damned, trashy planner.
With these thoughts, she drifted off to sleep. In her dream, Yan Yiming saw herself back when she was Lady Yan, dressed in wedding robes and carried into the Eastern Palace. Just as she was about to enter the bridal chamber, a black-clad assassin broke in. She stepped forward to protect the crown prince, but the assassin swiftly abducted her. In her panic, she tore off the assassin's mask and saw Nan Gongye's handsome face staring intently at her. A dazzling silver chain bound her hands.
“You promised to marry me, so stay here and remain by my side forever.”
Yan Yiming jolted and pushed Nan Gongye away, but in the blink of an eye, the scene shifted again. All around was pitch black, and the space was so cramped she couldn’t even sit up. She tried to reach out and feel what it was, but her arms felt as heavy as lead, impossible to lift. Suddenly, she heard footsteps, followed by a familiar voice exploding beside her ear.
Jiang Yi spoke in the gentlest of tones, caressing the coffin as if speaking to his most intimate lover. “Even in death, you can only stay by my side. You can’t go anywhere else.”
Yan Yiming was horrified. Overwhelmed by shock and fury, she blacked out once more.
She slept restlessly all night, haunted at times by Jiang Yi’s tender yet morbid voice, at other times by Nan Gongye’s icy, stubborn calls. Finally, she seemed to see Shao Jingyu gripping a silver spear, his cold eyes fixed intently on her.
Yan Yiming abruptly opened her eyes, clutching her chest as she gasped for breath a few times. She flung aside the bed curtains, a few faint rays of light were already seeping in through the window.
Yan Yiming slowly let out a sigh of relief.
Finally, dawn had broken.