So over the years, apart from Shaoguang, no one has tried to please him to share that meager affection, because every time they face him, they remember the way he looked at them as if they were looking at unfinished wooden sculptures.
The princes who grew up to adulthood and still held power were all people who pleased Emperor Qinghe. When he didn't care, they could fight for the power that had leaked from Emperor Qinghe's hands; when he didn't want to give it up, no one dared to fight for it.
Unless he dies.
This is a deeply ingrained habit formed over a long period of time. It is no longer a mountain weighing on people's hearts, but rather the sky above them.
So it's no wonder that Emperor Qinghe only had eyes for Yan Qingli, because she was the only one who had briefly deified him, and he still considered her to be human.
But since we are human, we have weaknesses.
One who is free from desires is invincible, but everyone who holds power is a person with boundless desires.
What everyone expected to be a tumultuous storm passed by peacefully and calmly, something they never anticipated. It wasn't that no one was unafraid of death and still opposed it under such circumstances, but what was unexpected was that the first to jump out was not Qiu Lanxi, but the prince, followed by the royalists. The entire royal family was of one mind, so what could they, as ministers, possibly say?
What frightens many people even more is that many of those who have spoken out were previously either neutral or antagonistic, but now they are openly supporting Yan Qingli. Is this a case of "turning back to the right path" or have they already colluded? And how come they, living in the vortex, have never noticed this?
The court assembly ended quickly, but the aftershocks were just beginning. When Qiu Lanxi returned to the mansion, she saw that the nanny and Dongxue had already started packing. Whether it was the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess, they would definitely have to live in the young mansion, otherwise it would feel like their status was not legitimate.
The so-called Shaofu is the Crown Prince's residence in the Ning Dynasty. Its internal structure is similar to a small court. The Crown Prince can openly train his subordinates in it. In other words, as long as the entire Shaofu can be managed in an orderly manner, it is impossible for him to cause chaos in the court after ascending the throne.
Although Yan Qingli didn't really need this opportunity after becoming regent,
Qiu Lanxi watched them calmly as they packed their things in an orderly manner. Most of them didn't even know why they were doing it. She rested her chin on her hand and watched for a while before looking away.
Historically, there have been several instances of crown princes being deposed and reinstated, but most of the time, the crown prince is the foundation of the state and cannot be easily dismissed. Most importantly, some things can be done once or twice but not three times. As long as Yan Qingli does not make any major mistakes, even if Emperor Qinghe wants to go back on his word later, the court officials will stand against Emperor Qinghe.
After all, the foundation of the nation cannot be easily shaken by child's play.
Now that things have come to this, Yan Qingli just needs to take each step carefully.
And she...
Qiu Lanxi looked at Chun Su and smiled slightly, "Are you all packed?"
Upon hearing this, Chun Su couldn't help but frown: "Is Your Excellency really leaving?"
Since Qiu Lanxi took power, the way people address her has naturally changed.
"Without a name or status, I naturally have to leave." Qiu Lanxi said calmly, without a trace of sorrow in her expression. She not only had to leave, but she had to leave openly and honestly.
Only in this way will everyone feel that everything was just a scheme devised by Yan Qingli, and that she has no flaws whatsoever.
Her departure will cause those 'smart people' to unconsciously fill in the blanks of everything Yan Qingli did, adding appropriate explanations for it.
In any case, only those close to Yan Qingli knew that they had indeed had a relationship.
So what if he's a secret lover? She's not one to flaunt her relationship. If Yan Qingli misses her in the future, she can just sneak over the wall. Anyway, she knows martial arts, so she's not afraid of falling.
Everyone has their own life. She wouldn't lose herself for Yan Qingli, but she was willing to compromise for him. Emperor Qinghe's threats had no effect on her, but people's feelings could influence their decisions.
Ultimately, she didn't want Yan Qingli to be embroiled in controversy just for a moment's pleasure.
This was the smallest thing she could do for Yan Qingli.
Of course, if Yan Qingli really keeps her as a secret lover and tries to fall in love with someone else, she will definitely make the other party pay the price.
Chapter 59
For many people, when someone is incompetent in terms of ability, they naturally tend to magnify the other person's emotional issues. Even though the former and the latter are completely unrelated, as long as a point of attack is found in the other person, they can be attacked at will.
Perhaps they were afraid, afraid that they were like bamboo that would rather break than bend, or plum blossoms that stand proudly in the snow, but no longer tools loyal to production, or roses that only pursued a beautiful appearance and did not want to wither, or cheap, silent containers.
They shouldn't care about these things, but this era is so unfair. So Qiu Lanxi doesn't want people to focus on Yan Qingli's love life. Throughout history, women have devoted all their efforts to making history remember their faces, but once love is involved, people will only remember their romantic affairs, rather than their achievements.
Although future generations will judge right and wrong, and the person involved may not care about such things, it is strange that when such things happen to oneself, they cannot even cause a ripple, but when they happen to others, they become something that is hard to accept just by thinking about it.
The trials from the devil are often not cruel and brutal tragedies, but rather gentle and pleasant like a spring breeze. Laziness is a natural instinct for most people, and no one can resist gentleness.
Snow falls silently, rain falls intentionally from the clouds.
Qiu Lanxi's search for a house naturally did not escape the notice of the people in the capital. Just as she thought, this action alone caused countless people to consciously overturn their previous perceptions.
After all, no matter how you look at it, she doesn't seem like someone who would be troubled by love.
Yan Qingli was naturally aware of this matter as well.
But she didn't stop it.
Yan Qingli is Yan Qingli, and Qiu Lanxi is Qiu Lanxi; she will not stop her from making her choice.
The world is inherently harsh on women. Even if a woman has outstanding achievements, as long as she is with someone, there will always be people who think that she rose to her position through nepotism.
Yan Qingli couldn't help but think that this was for the best. She sincerely hoped that the path she walked would be filled with blooming flowers, and that the sky she flew through would be free of wind and rain.
As for the rest...
None of that matters anymore.
Qiu Lanxi didn't have much to pack. What really took up her time was the housing prices in the capital. Although Yan Qingli had given her all the money when she published her book, houses in the capital were not cheap. Not only were they not cheap, but the ones in better locations were all taken, and you could only buy one with connections.
She didn't want to get up too early just to rush to court, so she wasted a lot of time. When the day of moving finally arrived, apart from a few clothes, Qiu Lanxi didn't think there was anything worth taking with her.
Yan Qingli did not appear during this period. For a moment, Qiu Lanxi thought that she wanted to end this absurd relationship. In the end, for an ambitious person, everything can be used to make way for his career.
Qiu Lanxi was somewhat annoyed by this. Perhaps in the other party's eyes, it was over now, and that everything could be repaired naturally after he ascended the throne. But for Qiu Lanxi, it was over.
It's two different things: wanting to do something yourself and having others accept your sacrifices as a matter of course.
But Qiu Lanxi quickly calmed down and dispelled this unfounded speculation. Because in this process, she had given the choice to others and would not want to take it back. So in her eyes, no matter what Qiu Lanxi wanted to do, she would not stop or try to stop her.
In her eyes, that was immoral.
But she should have expressed it, because no one can accurately guess another person's thoughts every time, even if she is extremely good at it.
By the time everything was packed up, it was already afternoon. Nowadays, people usually choose an auspicious day to move into a new house, but Qiu Lanxi doesn't care about such things. She packed her things and planned to leave. After all, it was just a place to stay, and it wasn't that important.
The decorating style she likes is something that will never exist in this era.
Qiu Lanxi glanced at the room where she had been sitting for a long time and wondered somewhat absentmindedly, "Will she show up?"
These days, Yan Qingli acted as if nothing had happened. She was completely natural when they met at the morning court every day, and they never said much in private. They would never be completely honest with each other. She was the crown prince, the future emperor, and she had to always adhere to that line.
Qiu Lanxi would not be honest either. She would not mind telling Yan Qingli that she had been resurrected in another's body, but she would never tell her about her feelings for her. It was not a hopeless love, but they were both too sensible and too afraid of crossing the line.
That requires too much fearlessness, the fearlessness of the ignorant, which they just happen to lack.
Even with such clarity, she still hoped that the other person would cross the line for her, in order to prove their sincerity.
How intense must the heat be to melt the boundaries of reason?
Objectively speaking, Qiu Lanxi felt that this was probably just a case of being blinded by love. They didn't have a passionate relationship; everything started with the prospect of profit. They didn't become soulmates in the process. They both saw some sincerity in each other, but neither of them could offer that sincerity back without reservation.
Their courage is always dedicated to their careers and ideals, but they are stingy with any of it for their emotions; they are all cowards who hesitate to move forward in matters of the heart.
"Sir, it's time to go."
Chun Su spoke softly at the door.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Lanxi put down her teacup and stood up. She immediately felt resistance behind her. People who know martial arts can always appear and disappear unpredictably. She raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Why is Your Highness not making a sound?"
As the crown prince, Yan Qingli's attire was more exquisite and luxurious than before, making her sharp eyebrows and eyes appear even more majestic. When she was silent on weekdays, it naturally made others feel uneasy. This might be the new halo bestowed by her status and position, or it might be that she had really made progress in her political skills.
But Qiu Lanxi didn't seem to care and watched her with a leisurely air.
Yan Qingli opened her mouth. She knew she shouldn't have come; it was pointless. She could use her power to make Qiu Lanxi stay, but then what?
She remained silent, her eyes gradually reddening. In recent days, she had been making various excuses to delay going to the Shaofu, but she always knew that she couldn't not go, just as she knew that Qiu Lanxi couldn't not leave.
This separation gave her the illusion that after a brief period of interaction, they would gradually drift apart.
This was actually predictable. She could confide in her lover in the harem and also cherish her ministers in the court. However, she would not do the same things she could do for the former but not for the latter. This was almost irreconcilable.
One can only guard one's own heart, but not the hearts of others. She cannot afford to gamble, much less risk her empire.
Qiu Lanxi looked at her with her chin propped up on her hand, and seeing that she remained silent, she finally said, "Then I'll be leaving?"
"No..." A barely audible voice came from behind her. Yan Qingli pursed her lips slightly, and after a moment, she asked, "If you leave, will you ever come back?"
"That's hard to say," Qiu Lanxi said calmly. "Maybe after I move in, I'll find that I actually prefer being alone?"
Qiu Lanxi had considered this possibility. She and Yan Qingli were almost inseparable, and a short separation might really calm them down and turn them into a simple superior-subordinate relationship.
Yan Qingli turned her head and pursed her lips, holding back for a moment before saying, "I don't like it."
Qiu Lanxi laughed immediately: "I can tell."
"...So, you figured it out a long time ago?"
"Yeah," Qiu Lanxi replied casually, not wanting to admit that she wasn't actually very comfortable with it.
She didn't believe in promises or vows; she just thought that if she dared to come, even if it was just to coax her into bowing down, she was willing to take the gamble.
It's only once in a lifetime, it's not like we can't afford to gamble.
Yan Qingli was silent for a few seconds, then placed a kiss on her brow. There was nothing to be dissatisfied with; everyone had paid the price they could.
She ran her fingertips along Qiu Lanxi's chin, lifted her chin to look at her, and chuckled softly, "If you ever need me in the future, I will always be ready to give myself to you."
Her movements were incredibly light and her tone was calm and unhurried, yet her words placed her in the position of a secret lover. Qiu Lanxi watched her with great interest. In the past, when she was not in love, she would always enjoy her in the dark corners where no one could see her. But after she fell in love, she never did that again. She was like a loyal dog that would never hurt anyone, and would never show her fangs again.
But Qiu Lanxi knew that she wanted to do whatever she wanted in the dark corners, just like before, and wanted to kiss her whole body, but she was afraid of making her feel unhappy and scared, so she endured it every day, and only the eyes that looked at her could release a little desire.
Their ability to bend and stretch is astonishing.
Qiu Lanxi chuckled lightly: "That's what I should be saying."
She frowned in disapproval: "I knew you didn't like it, but you can never easily leave the capital again in this life. I'm sorry."
"You've done enough," Qiu Lanxi said with a faint smile. She had no ties to anyone. She had been forcibly taken from her, and in the end, she had made her own choice. But in the end, she was the one who regretted it and caused the other person a lot of worry. She looked at the sky and said, "Perhaps it was fate that brought me to you and you to me."
She leaned in and bit her lip, chuckling teasingly, "If Your Highness can't resist, you can also pin me against the door, against the rockery, or under the table..."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Yan Qingli looked embarrassed; she could never handle Qiu Lanxi's startling remarks.
Qiu Lanxi gently massaged her trembling fingers and asked with a smile, "Your Highness really didn't think about it?"
Those in power need to know how to delegate, but this only shows that they can weigh the pros and cons, not that they don't have a strong desire for control. In fact, compared to the current situation, Qiu Lanxi guessed that she might prefer to lock herself up and control everything around her, but she is too good at weighing the pros and cons and knows how to retain people.
Yan Qingli lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "You've thought of all of these things, haven't you?"
Qiu Lanxi blinked innocently: "Why would I think about these things?" She touched Yan Qingli's eyelashes, "Even if I were to think about these things, I should be thinking about His Highness scolding me..."
"Alright!" Yan Qingli didn't want to hear her continue. Her intuition told her that it would make her blush even more than the scenes in the storybooks. She changed the subject and said, "Chun Su has been waiting for you for a while."