Qingluan was somewhat surprised; he was such a decisive and ruthless person! Knowing that he was trying to conceal this matter and keep her out of danger, Qingluan felt relieved.
"Are there any accomplices?" Qingluan asked again.
Qingxi replied, "The Consort Xian and that man were both killed by Prince Lin. We arrived shortly after and captured all the others. We are at the Lord's disposal."
Qingluan recalled Jun Yilin's words, hesitated for a moment, and then softly uttered a single word: "Kill!"
Jun Yilin was right; she couldn't take that risk. Qingluan thought, shouldn't husband and wife trust each other? Why couldn't she completely trust Yifeng? Since things had come to this, Qingluan said to Qingxi, "Go back and say we secretly went out of the palace to play and got lost. The people in the palace know I went to the Western Six Palaces yesterday—you know how to handle that!"
Qingxi nodded and said, "I will send them out of the palace, and they will never come to the capital again." The entire harem was under Qingluan's control, so sending a few older palace maids out of the palace was nothing out of the ordinary.
☆、Sixteen、Shu Kingdom
After several unexpected incidents, Qingluan had to be much more cautious and dared not be careless again. Along the way, accompanying the Emperor in his power grab and the abolition of the six palaces, she had offended many people, both openly and secretly, and had experienced several unexpected events. Although she had escaped unscathed each time, she wondered if she would be so lucky again. Now that the enemy was in the shadows and she was in the open, she had to be extra vigilant. Qingxi and Zhiqiu, feeling guilty for not fulfilling their duties after the last incident and causing the Lord's danger, were still unable to forgive themselves despite Qingluan's lenient punishment. They voluntarily went to Anmei to receive further punishment, but without telling Qingluan.
Life is full of surprises. Even if Qingluan had planted spies everywhere, it would be difficult to see into everyone's heart. If someone with ulterior motives were to make a move, how could it be easily known? At this moment, the only thing to do is to remain calm and be extra vigilant.
According to the plan agreed upon by Jun Yifeng and Qingluan, the next step was to form an alliance with the Shu Kingdom. Although they already possessed the Tianshan Snow Lotus, choosing a liaison officer was a difficult task. The liaison officer needed to travel discreetly and possess the talent and ability to successfully persuade the Shu Kingdom. The court officials were too conspicuous; their every move would easily lead people to speculate about Jun Yifeng's next move. The only person who could represent Jun Yifeng without arousing suspicion was Jun Yilin, as everyone knew he loved to travel the world, and an occasional visit to the Shu Kingdom was not unusual. Furthermore, he disliked politics, so no one would suspect his presence was related to court affairs.
"However, I'm worried he won't be able to persuade the Empress Dowager of Shu." Jun Yifeng was unsure about Jun Yilin's unruly nature; if he messed things up, things would be difficult!
"If all else fails—I'll go!" Qingluan was also worried. She rarely left the palace and knew few people. No one would have thought that the Empress of Great Zhou would appear in Shu.
“But you are the Empress, how can you go? It’s against the rules!” Jun Yifeng hesitated.
"Then arrange a fake identity for me, and I will act according to the circumstances!" Qingluan knew that if the secret were exposed, it would anger the Shu Kingdom, but this was the only way at the moment, so she had no choice but to act according to the circumstances.
Jun Yifeng was confident in Qingluan's abilities, and this was the best solution at the moment. So the two agreed that Qingluan would disguise herself as Jun Yilin's attendant and go to the Shu Kingdom, ostensibly for sightseeing, but actually to forge an alliance. Although her interactions with Jun Yilin would be awkward, there was no other way, so Qingluan had to force herself to forget some things.
Jun Yilin and Qingluan, accompanied by several dozen guards, quietly set off. Since Jun Yilin had already met with the people from Dark Night Tower last time, Qingluan didn't hide anything and brought her trusted confidants. Jun Yilin, however, never inquired about their origins, seemingly unconcerned. The journey was entirely based on Qingluan's opinions; Jun Yilin would sleep as soon as he got in the carriage and then energetically go off to have fun as soon as he got out, showing no concern for the details of the trip or its success. Qingluan sighed inwardly: "What a spendthrift!" However, this way, she wouldn't see Jun Yilin frequently, and the journey was relatively smooth.
Upon arriving in the Shu Kingdom, it happened to be the birthday of the Empress Dowager of Shu. This was a good opportunity to pay homage to her. Jun Yilin, as a prince traveling to the Shu Kingdom, presented birthday gifts, and the Empress Dowager of Shu naturally received him in person.
"Once we get to the main hall, you pretend to be unwell, and I'll answer the questions, understand?" Qingluan said irritably.
Hearing Qingluan's impatient voice, Jun Yilin didn't take it to heart. He smiled, waved his fan, and said, "Of course, I will follow your orders, my lady."
"Hmph!" Qingluan blushed, turned around and left.
Jun Yilin closed his fan, gazing at her retreating figure with a complex expression, a mixture of longing and sadness.
In the Golden Palace of the Shu Kingdom, atop the twelve jade steps, the Empress Dowager of Shu sat upon a golden phoenix throne, a glint of light flashing in her phoenix eyes, as if she could see through people's hearts. Jun Yilin and Qingluan stepped forward to pay their respects. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Jun Yilin feigned a cough, and Qingluan quickly stepped forward to explain, "Your Majesty, Prince Lin is unwell. May Your Majesty offer him a seat?"
"Oh, it was my oversight. Xiao Lu, quickly help Prince Lin to sit down." The Empress Dowager seemed unconvinced. "Your Highness is unwell, is it serious?"
"Your Majesty, the Prince is simply suffering from acclimatization issues due to the long journey. It's nothing serious, thank you for your concern!" Qingluan spoke on behalf of Jun Yilin.
"That's good. I'm very grateful that Your Highness, despite being unwell, still came to celebrate my birthday," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Just as Qingluan was about to speak, the Empress Dowager's voice rang out again: "However, your purpose in coming here is not so simple, is it? Would you please trouble your esteemed envoy to explain clearly?"
As expected, the Empress Dowager of Shu was not easily fooled. Qingluan thought to herself that her previous guess was indeed correct. But this was even better; getting straight to the point saved her a lot of trouble.
Looking around, Qingluan saw no one but the Empress Dowager's maids and eunuchs. Knowing they were her confidants, she spoke up, "My king has long heard of the Empress Dowager's remarkable character and knows that nothing can escape your discerning eyes. His Majesty has specially ordered us here to discuss an alliance with the Shu Kingdom. The ruler of Qi is tyrannical and has brought calamity upon the people. He previously annexed the Xia Kingdom; who knows if he doesn't harbor ambitions to annex Shu and Zhou? Therefore, His Majesty hopes that our two countries can form a Qin-Jin alliance and work together to rid the world of this scourge!"
"Oh? Qi is closer to Zhou. If war breaks out, Zhou will be the first to suffer. Why should Shu be in such a hurry?"
Heh, so you're starting to negotiate? Okay.
"I have long heard that His Majesty the Emperor of Shu is in poor health. To show our sincerity, my king has specially presented the Tian Shan Snow Lotus, which can cure all diseases. However, the Snow Lotus still needs one last process to be made into medicine, so it will be delivered later!" Seeing that the Empress Dowager was somewhat moved, Qingluan smiled with satisfaction. "I believe that Your Majesty also understands the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' If the Zhou Kingdom cannot withstand the invasion of the Qi Kingdom, then who will be next?"
The pros and cons have been made clear, and the Heavenly Snow Lotus, which she desires most, has been promised. I don't believe she can resist! Qingluan thought.
The Empress Dowager's expression softened, and she smiled, saying, "Hehe, if you want to show sincerity, why not tell me who you are first! What kind of woman is a servant, especially such a clever and beautiful one! Does your Zhou Kingdom think we orphans and widows are easy to bully?" The last sentence was somewhat sharp, and Qingluan's heart sank. Oh no, she'd been discovered. If she didn't explain this properly, all her previous efforts would be wasted. It would make the Empress Dowager think she had ulterior motives, or even look down on her.
Qingluan's mind raced, but her face remained impassive, still bearing a smile: "Your Majesty is indeed formidable. My little tricks are utterly inadequate in Your Majesty's presence! However, Your Majesty has wronged us in this matter. The Emperor was unaware of my arrival, believing I had gone home to visit my family. I have always admired Your Majesty's elegance and have long wished to meet you. Hearing that Prince Lin was coming to Shu for a tour, I begged him to bring me along. This was my fault, and I beg Your Majesty to help conceal it from him!"
Seeing Qingluan's shy demeanor, the Empress Dowager's gaze shifted from defensiveness to intense interest: "You are—"
"Junior Murong Qingluan greets the Empress Dowager." Qingluan reintroduced herself. She was the Empress of Zhou, and since her identity had been exposed, and both of them were the most powerful women in the harem, their statuses were equal, so she could no longer perform a grand ceremony. Moreover, the etiquette for meetings between the Empress Dowagers and Empresses of two countries was very complicated. Since she had come in disguise, Qingluan presented herself as a junior and performed a junior's greeting.
"So you are the Empress of Zhou. I have heard that you are a beauty that could topple kingdoms and have unparalleled looks. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved!" The Empress Dowager gestured to the maid beside her to help Qingluan sit down.
"Your Majesty is truly a heroine among women, whom Qingluan greatly admires. This time, it was Qingluan's own decision, so please do not blame Her Majesty!" Qingluan sat down without any ceremony.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said in a kind tone, "As the Empress of a nation, how can you act like a little girl! Well, since you have been so frank, I believe that the Zhou Kingdom is indeed sincere."
The two looked at each other and smiled...
The alliance between the Zhou and Shu kingdoms was successfully concluded amidst the laughter and conversation of two charming women, and of course, witnessed by a handsome prince who was merely a figurehead!
With the alliance settled, Qingluan originally wanted to return to Zhou Kingdom as soon as possible. However, the "spendthrift" Prince Lin insisted on traveling for a few days, otherwise it would arouse suspicion. Qingluan was speechless and could not give a reason to object, so she had no choice but to stay for a few more days.
Bored at the inn, Qingluan took Zhiqiu for a stroll in the capital of Shu. Everything they saw was new and exciting; they ate and bought a lot, making quite a haul. Their only problem was that they kept seeing Jun Yilin everywhere they went. After their third chance encounter, Qingluan stormed up to him and demanded, "Why are you following me?"
Jun Yilin looked on in surprise: "I was just strolling around. This street isn't yours. How can you say I was following you? That's just being presumptuous!"
Seeing Jun Yilin's disgusted expression, Qingluan's face darkened, and she turned and left.
“Actually,” Zhi Qiu carefully observed Qing Luan’s expression, “why did you speak so harshly to Prince Lin? He didn’t offend you. You seem to be being too harsh on him!”
Seeing Zhi Qiu's cautious demeanor, Qing Luan realized she had gone a bit too far. Throughout the journey, she hadn't given him a friendly look, yet Jun Yilin hadn't held it against her. That incident, Jun Yilin had only done it to save her, and besides, he had taken a heavy responsibility in doing so. But for some reason, Qing Luan couldn't hide her emotions well in front of him. Qing Luan shook her head, forcing herself not to think about these annoying things, and then pulled Zhi Qiu to look at something interesting.
After several days of wandering, they finally decided to return. Qingluan was helping to pack when Jun Yilin suddenly pushed open the door and came in. Qingluan was about to get angry, but seeing Jun Yilin's solemn expression, he grabbed Qingluan's hand and said, "Hurry up! I received news that the Qi Kingdom knows our intentions and has sent assassins to kill us in the Shu Kingdom and then frame the Shu Kingdom, causing a rift in relations between the two countries. We must escape immediately and not let their evil scheme succeed!" Qingluan wanted to struggle, but after hearing his words, she understood the importance of the matter and quickly cooperated by calling to Zhi Qiu, "Notify the others, set off immediately, and be quick!"
Jun Yifeng pulled Qingluan into the carriage parked at the door, and Zhi Qiu and the others quickly packed their things and rushed over. The attendant Jun Yifeng had sent to inform the Empress Dowager of Shu had returned, saying that the Empress Dowager had dispatched an army of two thousand men to escort them back to their country, which put everyone at ease. Once they entered the territory of Zhou, the danger would be over.
☆、Seventeen、Farewell
Escorted by the Shu army, the journey back was smooth and unimpeded. Everyone began to doubt the veracity of the news, but Qingluan, seeing Jun Yilin's unusually serious face, remained convinced. However, she still had some questions: "You spend all day wandering around and having fun, I haven't seen you do anything or meet anyone. This news is a secret of Qi, how did you find out about it?"
Seeing that Qingluan was willing to speak to him calmly, Jun Yilin's serious expression turned into a mischievous grin: "Do you think I only know how to fool around? I naturally have my own methods! However, I hope you won't tell my brother that I found out about this, lest he become suspicious of me." Seeing his mischievous grin as he spoke such a serious matter, Qingluan didn't know whether to be happy or angry, but she still agreed to his request, because subconsciously she had already chosen to believe him.
As they approached the border of Zhou, the Shu army ceased its pursuit. Qingluan and her group continued their journey without stopping; after passing one more small town, they would reach Zhou. The smooth journey had eased their anxieties considerably. As dusk approached, they decided to stay overnight at a small inn, preparing to continue their journey early the next morning. Fortunately, nothing untoward had occurred along the way, and they believed they would soon be able to return safely.
A gentle breeze ripples across the vast, boundless starry sky.
Qingluan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, so she got up and secretly climbed to the roof to look at the stars. As soon as she got up there, she found Jun Yilin there too. Qingluan instinctively tried to turn back before he noticed her, but then she heard his languid voice: "I know you're afraid of me; you try to hide as soon as you see me!"
Qingluan was unconvinced. "Why should I hide?" she thought. So she went up and found a flat and comfortable place to lie down and said, "Why should I be afraid of you? You look at the stars, and I'll look at mine. We won't bother each other!"
The vast starry sky was dotted with countless stars, twinkling as if telling countless little secrets. Qingluan was captivated by the sight when Jun Yilin's languid and sexy voice drifted over again: "I don't know why, but seeing you makes me feel so at ease, so eager to be close to you. I like teasing you until you're angry; it's only when I see your annoyed expression that I feel you're full of spirit, unlike your usual coldness. Knowing that you love my elder brother, I couldn't help but save you when I saw you hurt, even though it would expose my power and arouse my brother's suspicion, even what I'm saying now could bring me to my death. I still won't..." I wanted to keep it a secret. Seeing you and my brother so harmoniously, I know I was just indulging in wishful thinking, but I still couldn't help wanting to be good to you, wanting to see you. This time when I return, I won't appear before you again, to avoid causing you trouble. I will leave completely, letting you two live peacefully. You can tell my brother everything I've said today; even if he punishes me, I won't regret it. After I return tomorrow, we will never see each other again. Can you rest assured now? However, you must be careful of my brother. He's not as simple as he seems on the surface. I know you won't believe me, but I hope he'll treat you differently!
His voice was very soft, almost like he was talking to himself, but Qingluan didn't miss a single word. Her heart was pounding, and she didn't know how to respond. She wanted to leave, but she also wanted to hear him finish. While she was hesitating, Jun Yilin ignored Qingluan and climbed down the roof. Qingluan lay quietly on the roof for a long time, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
The next day, both of them acted as if nothing had happened and continued on their journey. Just when everyone thought they had safely entered the Zhou Kingdom, their worst fears came true. On a barren slope, dozens of masked men in black surrounded the carriage.
Seeing that things were not going well, Jun Yilin whispered to Zhi Qiu, "I'll go with the others to distract them. You protect the Empress and go first!"
Upon hearing this, Qingluan quickly said, "No, we must go together!"
Jun Yilin said calmly, "How can you thwart Qi's conspiracy if you don't return safely?"
Qingluan was speechless, her face full of anxiety.
Seeing her anxiety, Jun Yilin gently stroked her face and whispered in her ear, "I know you're reluctant to leave me. Don't worry, I'll be back safely." With that, he leaped off the carriage and shouted to the guards who followed him, "Brothers, today we'll fight them to the death! Are you afraid to die?"
Inspired by his boldness, the guards replied one after another, "We're not afraid, let's fight them!"
Qingluan had never known that Jun Yilin had such a bold and unrestrained side. She ignored his flippant attitude towards her and stared blankly at his back.
Jun Yilin was right. His primary task was to go back and report. Seeing his confidence, Qingluan felt much more at ease. She then told Zhiqiu to hurry up and the two of them quickly drove the carriage out of the encirclement. Behind them was a murderous aura. Qingluan silently prayed in her heart: You must come back safely!
She never imagined that this parting would be their final farewell. Qingluan recalled the situation at the time. If she had to choose again, would she still leave him behind? Qingluan didn't know.
After escaping the pursuit, Qingluan and Zhi Qiu entered the Zhou Kingdom amidst the billowing dust of their horses' hooves. Upon entering the city, Qingluan instructed Zhi Qiu to gather forces at the Dark Night Tower to rescue the people, while she herself went alone to the palace to deliver the message. After explaining the whole story to Jun Yifeng, Qingluan, who had been working tirelessly for a day and a night under immense pressure, finally collapsed from exhaustion.
When Qingluan woke up, three days later, she heard Zhi Qiu exclaim joyfully, "She's awake! She's awake!"
Qingxi rushed over and said, "Lord, you're finally awake! We were so worried about you. The Emperor has been keeping watch here for three days and three nights. He's gone to handle state affairs now and will be back in a bit."
"I—" As soon as she opened her mouth, Qingluan realized that her throat was so dry that she couldn't speak. Zhiqiu quickly took a glass of water, and Qingluan took a sip from her hand. She then asked hurriedly, "How is he?"
Zhi Qiu knew she was asking about Jun Yilin, and her face darkened. She said, "When we arrived, it was a scene of carnage, with corpses everywhere." Seeing Qing Luan's face turn pale as if she were about to faint again, Zhi Qiu quickly added, "However, we didn't find Prince Lin's body, so we believe he's still alive!"
Upon hearing this, Qingluan's mind went blank. How could this be? Didn't he say he would return safely before he left? Didn't he love making me angry the most? How could this be...? No body was found, and there was a cliff right next to us. Was he alive, or—doomed to be nothing but bones? Qingluan dared not think any further. Intense grief, anxiety, and self-blame tormented Qingluan's heart, and her fragile body finally couldn't take it anymore, and she fainted again.
A surge of heat coursed through her body, and Qingluan slowly regained her senses. Opening her eyes, she saw her Uncle-Master Tianyuan channeling his inner energy into her. Seeing that Qingluan was awake, Tianyuan breathed a sigh of relief: "Girl, how did you end up like this after just one trip? I knew Yifeng shouldn't have let you go!"
Qingluan forced a smile and said, "Uncle-Master, don't worry, I'm fine! Please don't blame Yifeng, it was my own fault for going."
Tianyuan shook his head and said, "It's truly a blessing for Yifeng to have your help!" Now that Qingluan was unharmed, Tianyuan returned home with peace of mind.
After finishing his duties, Jun Yifeng rushed over, hugged Qingluan tightly, and said, "Luan'er, never leave me again! How could I bear it if you were in danger again?"
Qingluan looked at Jun Yifeng, who was also looking haggard, gently stroked his hair, and said softly, "Okay, I will never leave you again, we will be together forever."
The two embraced tightly; Qingluan's eyes were filled with happiness, but Jun Yifeng's expression was indifferent.
Due to her weakened state, Qingluan needed to rest for a while. Whenever she thought of Jun Yilin's "disappearance," Qingluan would become depressed. When Jun Yifeng pressed her for details, Qingluan would only say that she was feeling unwell. Jun Yifeng stopped asking and simply held her gently in his arms, warming her with his body heat.
Jun Yifeng dispatched a large number of people to search for the missing Jun Yilin. Qingluan also ordered Anwu and Anmei to do their best to search. For a time, the two largest forces in the Zhou Kingdom, both openly and secretly, were searching for one person at the same time. However, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air, neither alive nor dead.
☆、18、Assassination
The alliance with Shu proceeded smoothly, and the armies of both countries secretly assembled at the border, preparing to march on Qi. Jun Yifeng personally led the expedition as commander-in-chief, with Ye Zhanqing as deputy commander. The Empress Dowager of Shu dispatched General Sang Peijiang as deputy commander, awaiting orders. Each country sent 100,000 troops, totaling a massive force of 200,000, embarking on their grand journey towards unifying the world under the leadership of the young and handsome commander-in-chief Jun Yifeng! This chaotic world will surely forge countless heroes!
Qingluan could not accompany the army and could only wait for news in the palace. The military camp reported the battle situation to Qingluan weekly, and after reviewing it, she would distribute it to the court officials. Before leaving, Jun Yifeng entrusted the affairs of state to her and Wang Chenglin. To ensure he had no worries, Qingluan had to be extremely vigilant. Every day, the court officials attended court as usual to discuss state affairs. If it was within their authority, Wang Chenglin would decide and send it back to the Six Ministries for processing. If they could not make a decision, they would go to the palace to consult Qingluan.
Qingluan once asked Jun Yifeng if he wasn't afraid that Wang Chenglin would use this opportunity to expand his own power and cultivate his cronies. But Jun Yifeng said eight words: "Trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust!"
Meanwhile, Dark Night Tower kept reporting news of their search for Jun Yilin, but to no avail. Instead, Dark Dance brought a piece of information that shocked Qingluan: Dark Night Tower had discovered that someone had paid the assassin organization Piaohong to kill Qingluan!
"How did you find out this information?" Qingluan asked Anwu.