“Of course I am afraid,” Yan Qingli raised her head and looked at the emperor who was expressionless. “But it is Father’s right. Whoever Father wants to succeed to the throne should be done according to Father’s wishes. How could I possibly interfere?”
"Your Majesty, I wish to become the Crown Prince. This is my own thought, and I have no objection to whatever decision Your Majesty makes. This is my truest wish, and I beg Your Majesty to consider it carefully!"
Emperor Qinghe listened calmly, then suddenly smiled. In this world, not many people would tell him the truth, let alone bluntly tell him what they were coveting. Everyone would pretend to be friendly and respectful to each other.
The fleeting years are still the same fleeting years.
However, Emperor Qinghe was not someone who was easily swayed by words. He had honed his skills for so many years as a prince and for more than a decade after ascending the throne. In terms of both mind and ability, he was far superior to ordinary people.
"Since that's the case, Shaoguang, then I'll give you a chance..." Emperor Qinghe said with his eyes half-closed, "There's only one condition: you must break off your relationship with Qiu Lanxi."
Yan Qingli paused, then fell silent.
"In your prime, everyone knows that the Crown Prince is very powerful, but he bears the heavy responsibility of the nation. A ruler should not have any weaknesses that can be controlled by others, and he should not be preoccupied with love."
"...Please forgive your son for being unable to comply." Yan Qingli prostrated himself deeply on the ground.
"Shaoguang!" Emperor Qinghe roared in fury. "Is this your resolve? You can't even give up something as trivial as entertainment. How can I entrust Da Ning to you?"
“Please forgive me, Father,” Yan Qingli looked up at him, “She is the love of my life.”
"Beloved?" Emperor Qinghe laughed angrily. "Shaoguang, you are still young. Do you really intend to give up the throne for her?"
"Your subject..." Yan Qingli closed his eyes and suddenly shed a tear. "Father, it would be a good thing if the sword could be drawn, but if I could stay with her, even if it never left its sheath, I would be happy to do so."
"Time flies!"
Yan Qingli said to himself, "I think she is just beginning to flourish, which is better than my own rising star."
If Qiu Lanxi were there, she would easily have noticed that Yan Qingli had almost perfectly imitated her pitiful demeanor.
"roll!"
The teacup shattered beside him. Yan Qingli bowed and said, "Your subject takes his leave."
As she sat in the carriage returning to the manor, Yan Qingli wiped away the tears from her cheeks. Was she to hand over Da Ning to her? Her father had really been telling jokes more and more lately.
It's likely that she was imprisoned the moment she made up her mind.
Yan Qingli took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. She had passed this hurdle and figured her father wouldn't suspect her motives for pushing Qiu Lanxi up anymore. Putting down her teacup, she asked, "Where did she go?"
Sometimes Qiu Lanxi would stay overnight at his own yamen (government office), whether he was really busy or just didn't want to go back was a matter of opinion.
Dongxue lowered her head and said, "The young lady has already returned to her residence."
Yan Qingli nodded, considered the day's events, and then said, "We can make our move over there. Tell our people to withdraw so they don't get involved."
...
After inquiring about Qiu Lanxi's whereabouts from Xiang Chunsu, Yan Qingli changed out of her court robes and went over.
Qiu Lanxi practiced calligraphy in her study. It had become a habit for her, and she would rely on repeated writing to calm herself down when her emotions fluctuated.
When Yan Qingli entered through the door, Qiu Lanxi ignored her. After a while, she put down her pen and, seeing that Yan Qingli's eyes were red, softened her tone: "What's wrong? What did His Majesty say to you?"
"It's nothing." Yan Qingli shook her head, raised her hand and gently massaged her wrist. "Are you still angry?"
“I’m not angry,” Qiu Lanxi tried to reason with her. “Do you even understand that a good person and a good ruler are inherently opposed? Yes, I know you value talent, but you should also consider your position. He’s the Crown Prince’s man. Do you think he’ll be moved if you speak up for him? He’ll only think you’re being sentimental!”
"To put it bluntly, you're doing the work of a farmer but worrying about the emperor's affairs. Pan Xun is indeed talented, but you surely know who he is, don't you?"
Qiu Lanxi really couldn't understand Yan Qingli's actions. Pan Xun was an extreme male chauvinist, one of the few in the court who was too lazy to even put on a show with Yan Qingli. He firmly believed that women were only fit to stay at home, not to disrupt the court.
Qiu Lanxi has no problem with considering things from other people's perspectives, but always thinking from other people's or neutral angles, doesn't she think she's being too saintly?
Their daily sweetness gradually turned into deep conflict due to their ideological differences. Qiu Lanxi is a typical egoist, so she could once think Yan Qingli was cruel, but now she can no longer bear to think of the dark room in the princess's mansion.
To put it bluntly, it's like when someone sees a tragic news story online. Although they feel that the person who died deserved it, they also feel sorry for the murderer, thinking that she was too impulsive, and they wouldn't want to have any deep contact with a murderer.
But when you're in the thick of it, your stance will naturally shift, and you'll hope that those who oppose you or have grudges against you will no longer be able to cause trouble.
"Of course I know, don't be angry," Yan Qingli said, gently squeezing her fingertips, trying to appease her. "It's all my fault."
"It was your fault to begin with!" Qiu Lanxi raised her voice. "Do you know how long I searched for this opportunity? Not only did you not help, but you also held me back!"
“Any ruler will instinctively try to win over his core supporters when he is in power. Have you thought about what those people who stand up for him and support you will think? If you want to treat everyone equally, you'll have to wait until you ascend the throne, right? Pan Xunzhen isn't so outstanding that no one else is indispensable, is he?” Qiu Lanxi really felt very tired. “Do you think your position is very secure now? How many times have you stopped me?”
"You denied harboring resentment, and you denied fabricated charges. If the court doesn't descend into chaos, how will you have a chance?"
Qiu Lanxi shook off her hand: "If you don't think you need me, just say so, so I won't meddle!"
“I didn’t mean that,” Yan Qingli said gently. “I know you mean well, but he’s more useful alive than dead.”
She pulled him into her arms and said softly, "The methods you used were too extreme. Have you thought about what kind of reputation you would have left if you really brought someone down on charges like harboring resentment?"
Qiu Lanxi opened her mouth.
"Yes, I know you don't care, but I don't want to see you make enemies all over the world. Even if someone might clear your name a thousand years from now, what good will that do? Why not stop it from happening in the first place?"
“If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper; if the words are not proper, the person will not be upright,” Yan Qingli sighed softly. “Qingqing, you are not alone in this world.”
Qiu Lanxi was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "Then you can't let Pan Xunzhen go. I didn't cause him any trouble on trumped-up grounds."
Yan Qingli pondered for a moment: "What if I said he's one of mine?"
Qiu Lanxi was startled, then startled. After a moment, she pursed her lips and asked, "Then why didn't you tell me?"
“He himself didn’t know about this,” Yan Qingli reassured her.
Qiu Lanxi: "…………"
She fell silent for a while before realizing that Yan Qingli had probably been eyeing Pan Xunzhen for a long time. Even the fact that he was seen by the Crown Prince might have been due to her efforts. However, both the Crown Prince and Pan Xunzhen thought it was a coincidence. After all, an extreme patriarchal man's words and actions cannot be faked.
However, no matter how shrewd and calculating one's plans are, accidents are inevitable. Qiu Lanxi is a troublemaker in the Da Ning court. Besides doing what Emperor Qinghe wants her to do, Qiu Lanxi is not idle. Of course, she will seek her own interests and also eliminate her political enemies in the court.
After all, she was just a subject and wouldn't consider the interests of Da Ning. Instead, she would prioritize her own interests. So even if she was a champion of equality at heart, she would act as an extreme feminist, simply to maximize her own interests.
Yan Qingli, however, was different. She valued talent above all else. If someone was truly talented, she could tolerate them even if they were not like her.
Because she is, after all, from Da Ning, she will naturally consider things from Da Ning's perspective.
"Don't be angry," Yan Qingli said gently. "I was just putting on a show for them."
Qiu Lanxi sneered.
Indeed, because of her, Yan Qingli's reputation has improved a lot. People only realize the goodness of the former when they make a comparison. Compared to Qiu Lanxi, Yan Qingli, who was once considered "restless", has really become a big black lotus flower. Especially when she "bewitched" the capital of Qinghe, Yan Qingli still dared to speak out. Of course, they would think she was a good person.
Even Emperor Qinghe probably believed that she was wholeheartedly thinking of the Great Ning, and that even if she had selfish motives, she was not greedy for power and could bear the responsibility.
Although she was brought into the court by Yan Qingli, how many people would still think they were on the same side now?
In a flash, Qiu Lanxi suddenly realized something. Emperors are suspicious. If Yan Qingli did this, Emperor Qinghe would probably completely separate them and feel at ease entrusting her with important tasks without worrying that she would secretly do something for Yan Qingli.
Qiu Lanxi pursed her lips tightly. She wasn't stupid. In that instant, she suddenly couldn't be sure whether Yan Qingli pushed her out for her sake or for her own.
Once doubt takes hold in someone's heart, it's very difficult to rebuild trust. Qiu Lanxi took a few steps back: "You're lying to me?!"
"Hmm?" She didn't answer, but reached out and supported her waist, gently pulling her back into her arms. Looking down at her, she asked, "What did I lie to you about?"
Yan Qingli took her hand and placed it on his heart: "You know me inside and out, don't you?"
Qiu Lanxi struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so she had to give up. Not wanting the doubt to linger in her heart, she looked up at her, her eyes fixed on her: "Was the current situation something you orchestrated?"
Yan Qingli held her fingers, but did not answer.
Qiu Lanxi immediately understood. Thinking about her own transformation, she twitched the corner of her mouth and asked, "When did it start?"
Yan Qingli said softly, "You said you wanted to be an official."
Her lips pressed into a straight line. She wasn't stupid; now that things had come to this, how could she not understand Yan Qingli's meaning? If she obediently stayed in the princess's residence, then Yan Qingli would naturally be able to tell her everything as their feelings deepened, because they had no conflict of interest. But it was different in the court. No matter how close the relationship was, it was impossible to tell the other party all their purposes and actions.
That's too passive.
She had already hinted at it, but she didn't understand, or rather, Qiu Lanxi hadn't even considered that they would have an office romance at that time.
But Yan Qingli had already considered this point.
Qiu Lanxi thought to herself, she clearly knew that for an ambitious person, even deep love would not prevent them from using the person they loved. How could she have forgotten? Wasn't the precedent of Emperor Qinghe still there?
She didn't doubt that Yan Qingli didn't love her. He had indeed done enough, but he had also schemed too deeply, so deeply that even if Qiu Lanxi discovered the problem, she wouldn't leave, because both interests and feelings were binding her.
Qiu Lanxi bit her lower lip hard and suddenly realized that she was like a stray cat that had been kidnapped. At first, she was all alone and wary of everything around her. Even when she begged for food to survive, she would stop recognizing people after she was full.
The person who feeds you is patient enough. She works hard to provide for you, and she doesn't hold a grudge even if you scratch her. When you finally realize how good she is and are willing to go with her, you only realize that she has prepared everything long ago as soon as the door closes: toys to amuse the cat, a life of luxury... she has prepared everything.
Qiu Lanxi finally realized why so many noble ladies were so obsessed with her. If she wanted to seduce someone, she didn't need to say a word. Her whole persona seemed to wander among your desires. The fragrance that slipped through her fingers was tainted with your desires. The sword tip lingered on your heart, making you unable to forget her. Her eyes were full of the desire to provoke your desires.
No need for seduction, you've already delivered yourself to my door.
Qiu Lanxi was suddenly defeated. In her most proud field, she had been completely deceived and only realized the problem now.
But Yan Qingli had planned everything out. In life, she was the perfect lover. She had even thought about the consequences of being discovered. No matter what Qiu Lanxi did, she couldn't deny that Yan Qingli would indulge her in doing whatever she wanted to her, would personally hand over all the evidence to her, and would lose control in bed several times but still couldn't bear to refuse her or push her away.
But she was able to keep everything separate, which is probably the skill of all ambitious people, but it made Qiu Lanxi remember those things when she saw her, and she couldn't let go of all of this because of her current status.
After all, she came here with no one to rely on. Whether she left secretly or committed suicide, it didn't matter to her, because what she never had was lost forever.
But things are different now. Although she gained a foothold in the court by leveraging external forces, she now possesses power and even has her own faction. She is unwilling to let go and leave.
She was trapped, but she went in on her own initiative.
Qiu Lanxi knew that she had been completely outmatched. Even in bed, if Yan Qingli hadn't gone easy on her, she wouldn't have been able to beat her at all!
Overwhelmed with grief, she briefly hooked Yan Qingli, but then she was constantly being hooked instead, clinging to the bait and refusing to let go.
"Don't cry," Yan Qingli gently kissed away her tears. "My dear Qingqing, it breaks my heart."
"Doesn't it hurt?" Qiu Lanxi felt a sharp pain in her heart and liver. The love of an ambitious person is like licking honey from a knife's edge; you never know whether the next bite will be sweet or painful.
But not only did she do this herself, she also made others experience the same thing.
He's utterly wicked!
Yan Qingli lowered her eyes meekly and said, "It's all my fault."
Qiu Lanxi raised her hand to wipe away her tears, feeling a little annoyed at her loss of composure. However, she couldn't control her emotions from flowing uncontrollably. She said bitterly, "You'll have your turn to cry sooner or later!"
She hasn't lost yet! Yan Qingli has only temporarily won. If everything had gone according to her plan, she wouldn't have appeared in the court.
Qiu Lanxi's fighting spirit was ignited. She was unwilling to be subservient to others and be suppressed to the point of exhaustion. She liked to take the initiative, otherwise she wouldn't have been interested in psychology. That was certainly because of her ideals, but also because that state of mind was indeed fascinating.
Coincidentally, Yan Qingli is also someone who likes to hold the initiative in her own hands. She can 'relinquish' power, but she cannot tolerate being completely passive.
Upon hearing Qiu Lanxi's words, Yan Qingli softly said, "I cried on your body for half the night last night."
Qiu Lanxi, enraged and embarrassed, shouted: "...Shut up!"