TGPSAC – Chapter 81

Her Highness the Grand Princess had returned from her prayer retreat.

As soon as this news spread, some were shocked, some were unconcerned, and some were terrified.

Those who were shocked knew what had happened at Xuanyang Temple. For her to return even after all that—Her Highness the Grand Princess was truly formidable.

Those who were unconcerned felt that the time for the prayer retreat was over, so wasn’t it normal for her to return? It was just that Her Highness was in too much of a hurry, even returning overnight, leaving them, the officials, no time to receive her.

Those who were terrified were, naturally, the ones who had done wrong and feared that Yu Jiuzhou would return to settle scores.

Among them, Prince Ying and Prince Bao’an were the two most terrified.

In Prince Ying’s residence, the prince paced anxiously. “The Grand Princess is back. Quickly, tell me what to do.”

The advisors looked at each other. What could they do? They had advised against collaborating with foreign clans from the start. No matter how powerful the Grand Princess was, she would eventually have to return her authority. But Prince Ying, coveting the foreigners’ silver, had insisted on working with them.

They had come to understand it clearly: Prince Ying’s downfall was his greed. He dared to accept any money and do anything for it.

One of the advisors knelt directly and performed a grand salute. “Your Highness, this servant begs you to go to the Princess’s Residence and offer a humble apology.”

“Insolence! This prince is a descendant of Emperor Xiaozong.”

The successive emperors of Great Zhou were Taizu, Taizong, Renzong, Xuanzong, Yingzong, Huizong, Xianzong, Xiaozong, Wuzong, Shizong, Mingzong, and Emperor Shengyuan.

Great Zhou had seen twelve generations of emperors. How many generations had passed since Emperor Xiaozong? And he was still talking about being a descendant of Emperor Xiaozong, while she was the current Son of Heaven’s own daughter.

The advisor bowed again. “Your Highness, saving your life is what’s important right now.”

“Impossible. This prince will not die. Absolutely not.”

Prince Ying swept all the teacups from the table onto the floor. “This prince knows. It must be Prince Bao’an. Didn’t they say his people slipped in to fish in troubled waters? It was him.”

“Hmph, if this prince is to die, I will not let Yu Yichen have an easy time either.”

“Men, tomorrow, impeach Yu Yichen for me. Does he really think this prince doesn’t know that Autumn Water Pavilion is his? And why do you think the Grand Princess smashed Autumn Water Pavilion? That Yu Yichen actually dared to use a woman to vex the Grand Princess. It seems the Grand Princess dislikes him too. Then let’s see which of us dies first.”

The advisor’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness speaks with reason. Of the three princes, only you and Prince Bao’an remain. As long as Prince Bao’an falls, Your Highness will become the most popular candidate for crown prince. If we then kill off those imperial clansmen in the Imperial Scions Institute, His Majesty will have no choice but to select Your Highness as the crown prince.”

Prince Ying had also thought of this. “This prince will go apologize to the Grand Princess. You all keep a close watch on Yu Yichen for me.”

With this bit of guidance from his advisor, he immediately understood. So what if he had to apologize? What could be more important than the imperial throne?

---

Meanwhile, in Prince Bao’an’s residence, Yu Yichen was fuming again.

He was truly furious. He had been right. How could Yu Jiuzhou die so easily?

“This prince said it long ago: if you want to kill Yu Jiuzhou, do not act without absolute certainty. Now she’s back. Do you think she will let us off?”

An advisor quickly said, “Your Highness, this servant believes that since we have already offended the Grand Princess, we might as well offend her to the death.”

“Tell me, how do we offend her to the death?” Prince Bao’an asked, looking interested.

The advisor immediately replied, “Your Highness, the Grand Princess’s prayer retreat resulted in a great fire at Xuanyang Temple, and the Prayer Hall was destroyed. This must be a disaster sent from the heavens, showing displeasure with the one who prayed.”

“Have the Imperial Astronomical Bureau announce that a demonic star has descended, and that a Kun Ze cannot be the ruler…”

Prince Bao’an was so angry he almost laughed. “Do you have any idea who Yu Jiuzhou is? She is His Majesty’s only child. Do you think His Majesty will do anything to her for reasons like these?”

“How absurd. How could this prince have an advisor as foolish as you?”

Prince Bao’an was genuinely angry. Having been reborn, he knew what these people before him would do later on.

Some, priding themselves on their contributions, would try to sway the emperor’s decisions. He was the emperor, and they were meritorious subjects. He had already granted them titles and promotions, yet they still wanted to meddle in imperial power. That was impossible.

Anyone who tried to divide the power in his hands would meet a dead end.

He had never imagined that after eliminating Yu Jiuzhou, he would nearly be turned into a puppet by the very people who had supported him. Later, when foreign enemies invaded, he was forced to move the capital, which was how he finally stabilized his regime.

He felt disgusted just looking at these people before him. He made up his mind to suppress them early on to prevent them from causing trouble in the future.

Compared to offending Yu Jiuzhou, he was more inclined to ally with her.

However, there was one condition: Yu Jiuzhou had to return alive.

Yu Jiuzhou was about to enter the city. Clearly, Prince Bao’an would not let her return so easily.

In fact, if Yu Jiuzhou entered the capital alive, and his past actions were exposed, he would never be able to gain her help again.

He was very curious. How could his younger self have handled things so poorly, actually finding a female Kun Ze to disgust Yu Jiuzhou? As if this Grand Princess had a good temper.

Now, Autumn Water Pavilion had been exposed prematurely, which meant he would have no source of information in the future.

Without Autumn Water Pavilion, his success would not have come so easily. The vast amount of information obtained from there, whether through coercion, bribery, or other means, had convinced many people to switch their support to him.

He remembered that Autumn Water Pavilion had never been exposed. How did it suddenly get exposed?

Prince Bao’an couldn’t figure it out. Could it be that this was all a dream? Not a rebirth?

Impossible. Something must have happened to cause this change.

The biggest variable was… Prince Bao’an frowned in deep thought, slowly tracing back from the beginning of the changes to the present. Finally, he discovered something.

Chi Wan?

Such a good-for-nothing, who had obtained the position of Fuma only to back the wrong side. Because she had crippled Yu Jiuzhou, Chi Wan died the same year Emperor Shengyuan passed away. It was said her death was very gruesome.

But the Chi Wan of now held high office and great wealth, was deeply trusted by the Emperor, and wielded far more power than he, a prince.

Could Chi Wan be the reason this life was different from the last?

In any case, Prince Bao’an felt he had been reborn, not that he was dreaming. Even if it was a dream, it was a prophecy.

Since the key figure was Chi Wan, he would start with her. It was simple: cooperate and live, refuse and die.

Prince Bao’an said coldly, “Tell the men at the city gate to withdraw.”

Yu Jiuzhou had brought so many people with her; the men he had arranged outside the city gates could do nothing. It was impossible to kill them.

Before he had absolute certainty, he must not act.

Prince Bao’an wanted to kill Yu Jiuzhou, but he was not that reckless.

Yu Jiuzhou was an unfathomable person; everything she did had a deeper meaning. Fortunately, she was still in her growth phase now, not yet so terrifying.

He remembered that Yu Jiuzhou herself was a very intelligent person, but right now she was just a little fox. There was a process for her to grow into an old fox, and being forced to marry a good-for-nothing and being assassinated at Xuanyang Temple was the beginning of her transformation into a true regent Grand Princess.

Xuanyang Temple was their only chance for a successful assassination, which was why he had people waiting at the city gates, ready to strike if they encountered a battered and fleeing Yu Jiuzhou.

But Yu Jiuzhou was being escorted back by three thousand soldiers, followed by over ten thousand more who were nominally training but were actually her escort. To attack under the protection of so many people would be suicidal.

Prince Bao’an considered a possibility. After returning from the assassination attempt at Xuanyang Temple, Yu Jiuzhou would become uncontrollable. If he wanted to ascend the throne, he had to make himself the only choice.

That was why he called his advisor a fool. To win the throne, the important thing was not Yu Jiuzhou, but killing all his rivals. Once he became emperor and held the mandate of legitimacy, he could then deal with Yu Jiuzhou.

Otherwise, he would only be giving Prince Ying an opportunity.

“Your Highness, Prince Ying has left his residence. It seems he is heading for the Princess’s Residence.”

Prince Bao’an frowned. “What is he going to the Princess’s Residence for now?”

Could he be planning to make a false counter-accusation? To pin the assassination at Xuanyang Temple on him? Prince Zhongshan was already dead, so the blame could only be shifted to him.

“Men, to the Princess’s Residence.”

He had to go as well to show his loyalty. He couldn’t let Prince Ying get the first move.

Why did no one understand that gaining Yu Jiuzhou’s support was equivalent to securing the throne?

Yet they insisted on making an enemy of her before even ascending the throne. His current situation was very precarious.

---

The news that Prince Ying and Prince Bao’an were both heading to the Princess’s Residence quickly spread throughout the capital, and Emperor Shengyuan soon heard of it as well.

“Hmph, the ambitions of a wolf cub. Trying to curry favor with the Grand Princess to contend for the succession. A fine thought, but they are too hasty. We are not dead yet!”

Cheng Jiao hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, the two princes show less and less regard for Your Majesty these days.”

There was another sentence he left unsaid: that the two princes only had eyes for Her Highness the Grand Princess.

Some things didn’t need to be said aloud; the Emperor would fill in the blanks himself.

Emperor Shengyuan’s expression indeed darkened. Just then, Wang Hai spoke up, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Grand Princess and the Fuma are on their way to the palace.”

Hearing this, Emperor Shengyuan felt better, and a smile appeared on his face. “Zhou’er is still the sensible one.”

She knew that the first thing to do upon returning to the capital was to pay her respects to him, the Emperor.

The two princes had actually gone to the Princess’s Residence to wait for her. They really thought Zhou’er was as insensible as they were.

---

By this time, Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan had switched to a carriage. The Grand Princess’s procession, with its official regalia, moved through the capital as the sky was just beginning to lighten.

People kept peeking out from the alleyways, then leaving to pass on the news.

By the time the procession reached the imperial palace, it was just past the hour of mao, and the sky was fully bright.

The two of them, dressed in black and looking travel-worn, drew frequent glances from the people in the palace.

When had Her Highness the Grand Princess ever looked so disheveled? She wasn’t wearing her usual splendid robes. According to her scheduled return, she should have been back in the capital in the afternoon. At this hour, it was clear the Grand Princess had traveled through the night.

And looking at her attire—something had happened!

The honor guard that had come to receive Yu Jiuzhou stopped, and she boarded first.

Chi Wan habitually moved to stand aside, but Yu Jiuzhou grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

Everyone was astonished. Hadn’t Her Highness the Grand Princess always disdained the Fuma? What had happened?

For Her Highness to disregard her own dignity, it must be something major.

Once inside the palanquin, Chi Wan was surprised. “Your Highness, why did you pull this servant up?”

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t even look at her, but said domineeringly, “I told you to sit, so you sit.”

The Grand Princess’s palanquin was carried by twelve men; it was more than enough to carry them both.

Chi Wan tilted her head, looking at Yu Jiuzhou, who was so close. Her gaze slowly moved to her lips, then she discreetly looked away.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Yu Jiuzhou suddenly opened her eyes and looked at the black clothes Chi Wan was wearing. There were many bloodstains on them, now dried.

“One must be properly dressed for an audience with His Majesty. Improper attire is a sign of contempt for imperial authority.”

Improper attire?

Chi Wan looked down at her own clothes and only then realized she was stained with a lot of blood. It was so visible even on black fabric; if it had been white, she would have looked like a person drenched in blood.

“Then I will find a place to change.”

“No need. I will see His Majesty alone.”

“Why?”

Yu Jiuzhou reached out and tapped her on the forehead. “Your attire is improper, unsuitable for an audience with His Majesty. If His Majesty summons you, just act according to the situation.”

Chi Wan understood. “I see.”

She and Yu Jiuzhou had already discussed what to say when they saw the Emperor. The play was about to begin, and they were both actors on the stage.

Chi Wan forced her eyes open. The palanquin was so comfortable, a veritable sleep-inducing artifact; she was starting to feel drowsy.

She was curious if Yu Jiuzhou had ever fallen asleep while sitting in here before.

Chi Wan leaned her head coquettishly on Yu Jiuzhou’s shoulder, then quietly slid down until she was lying on Yu Jiuzhou’s lap.

The way she slid down from the shoulder, she was practically being a rogue with her head.

Chi Wan herself didn’t notice. Her mind was completely occupied with how to lie down discreetly without being pushed away by Yu Jiuzhou, and she didn’t even have time to register that faint softness.

Yu Jiuzhou also felt a little unnatural. In contrast to Chi Wan’s obliviousness, her own sensations were very distinct, so distinct that her body went limp and soft.

Just then, a voice came from outside. “Your Highness, we have arrived at Daming Palace.”

It was Chun Gui who spoke. She had been the one to lead the procession to the city gate to meet them.

It was obvious that Chun Gui was both anxious and worried, with countless questions she wanted to ask.

Especially when she saw the bloodstains on Chi Wan’s clothes, she was even more certain that they had encountered unprecedented danger.

Yu Jiuzhou gently patted Chi Wan’s head. “Alright.”

Chi Wan reluctantly moved her head away. As Yu Jiuzhou stood up, she lay down fully in the palanquin.

Just as Yu Jiuzhou was about to leave, she suddenly grabbed her hand. “Call me if anything happens.”

She would go straight into the imperial study to save the day.

Yu Jiuzhou squeezed her hand back. “I will.”

The two separated briefly. Chi Wan stared at Yu Jiuzhou’s back until she was out of sight before retracting her gaze.

Chun Gui and a new face, a person as cold as a block of ice, walked towards the imperial study, while Xia Qu stood guard by her side.

Xia Qu approached the palanquin and said in a low voice, “Fuma, should you alight?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a young eunuch came over. “Fuma, if you are waiting to be summoned by His Majesty, you may wait in the heated chamber first.”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow and suddenly started groaning. “Come, Xia Qu, help this Fuma out.”

She was getting into character now.

Xia Qu was slow to react to matters between partners, but she was incredibly quick to react to this sort of thing. She immediately went to the palanquin door. “Fuma, this subordinate will carry you.”

“Good, thank you.”

Chi Wan used her internal energy to make her face pale and even forced a drop of blood to the corner of her mouth.

Then she slowly moved to the palanquin door and leaned her body against Xia Qu.

Because she was very light, carrying her was like carrying a small chick for Xia Qu, who lifted her up in one go.

Xia Qu looked at the young eunuch beside them. “Lead the way.”

The young eunuch was already dumbfounded. Wait, the Fuma was this seriously injured? Then Her Highness the Grand Princess was assassinated? It seemed the capital was about to be washed in blood again.

As Chi Wan was being taken to the heated chamber, a young eunuch went to summon an imperial physician.

---

On the other side, Yu Jiuzhou met with Emperor Shengyuan. Seeing her attire and the faint bloodstains on her black clothes, he immediately knew something was wrong.

“Zhou’er, what happened?”

The Emperor was actually unaware of the fire at Xuanyang Temple. The soaring flames would surely have been visible from the capital. How could he not know?

Unless someone had deliberately blocked the channels of information to the Emperor.

Not for long, but at least until dawn, when the dust had settled.

Who could it be?

Yu Jiuzhou glanced at Cheng Jiao, who stood to the side, and had an idea.

“Your Majesty, this servant was assassinated at Xuanyang Temple. It is only thanks to the Fuma protecting me with her life that I was able to return.”

As Yu Jiuzhou said this, her entire being exuded a sense of having narrowly escaped death, along with a lingering fear from the ordeal.

The Emperor was enraged. “To dare assassinate the Grand Princess in a royal temple is an unforgivable crime! Men, investigate this for Us! No matter who it is, arrest them all!”

But then Yu Jiuzhou added, “Your Majesty, the culprits also set fire to Xuanyang Temple.”

Those people had actually buried explosives outside Xuanyang Temple. If not for her people, it might have started a forest fire.

“What did you say? Xuanyang Temple was burned?” Emperor Shengyuan asked again in disbelief.

“Yes. This servant escaped from that great fire.”

Yu Jiuzhou confirmed it. The matter of Xuanyang Temple could only be hidden from the Emperor for a short time; he would find out the details sooner or later.

Emperor Shengyuan turned and sat back down on the arhat bed, suppressing the rage in his heart. But how could an emperor suppress himself? The more he suppressed it, the bigger the matter would become.

The Emperor pondered for a long while before saying, “Give the Grand Court of Revision three days to give Us an explanation. The Imperial City Division will investigate concurrently. If anyone dares to not cooperate, for those below the third rank, execute them first and report later.”

“All those involved will have their three clans exterminated.”

The paternal clan, the maternal clan, and the wife’s clan—not a single person would be left alive.

Yu Jiuzhou frowned. Annihilating three clans was already enough. Exterminating three clans… it seemed the Emperor was truly furious.

Speaking of the Imperial City Division, Emperor Shengyuan then remembered, “Where is the Fuma?”

Wang Hai, standing nearby, quickly replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Fuma is seriously injured and is currently being treated by an imperial physician.”

“Injured?”

The Emperor looked at Yu Jiuzhou, seeking an explanation.

Yu Jiuzhou immediately said, “Your Majesty, the Fuma was injured while protecting this servant.”

Emperor Shengyuan nodded. It was a good thing he had sent the Fuma along. Otherwise, his plans might have been completely ruined.

In his plans, Yu Jiuzhou was the most important piece. If this piece was lost, his plans would likely fail. No other piece could accomplish what Yu Jiuzhou was meant to do.

Emperor Shengyuan thought for a moment. “Have the imperial physicians treat the Fuma well. As for the investigation, let the Vice-Commander of the Imperial City Division handle it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” someone nearby responded.

The Emperor also had a secret force, a team of death-sworn loyalists who were the most devoted to him. It was a team that anyone, regardless of gender or whether they were Qian Yuan or Kun Ze, could join.

Even as the Grand Court of Revision and the Imperial City Division investigated, this death-sworn team would also investigate.

But Yu Jiuzhou had long been prepared. No matter how they investigated, the result would be that Prince Ying was the mastermind, and Prince Bao’an had tried to fish in troubled waters to kill her. In essence, both of them wanted her dead.

The Emperor waved his hand, dismissing Yu Jiuzhou. “Go back and rest well. Let the Fuma recuperate properly too.”

The Fuma’s arm hadn’t even fully healed, and now she was injured again. But it seemed their relationship had improved quite a bit.

As long as their relationship was good, he would soon be able to hold a royal grandchild.

Once a royal grandchild was born, he would have to find an opportunity to sow discord between them.

“Oh, right.” Just as Yu Jiuzhou was about to leave, Emperor Shengyuan added, “The two princes are waiting for you at your residence. We hope you can give Us a satisfactory reply.”

Yu Jiuzhou paused in her departure, then turned and said, “Yes.”

Yu Jiuzhou left the imperial study, her eyes growing colder and colder. From the moment he learned she had been assassinated, he hadn’t said a single word of concern. She had known long ago that the Emperor was utterly selfish. How could he possibly care about her?

But that was her father, a father she had once admired and revered. How could she not have held some expectation?

---

Yu Jiuzhou arrived at the heated chamber. Inside, an imperial physician was saying, “The Fuma has suffered an internal injury. She just needs to rest well upon returning. This servant will prescribe a formula to be taken for seven days, and that should be sufficient.”

Hearing that Chi Wan had an internal injury, she strode quickly into the heated chamber.

Chi Wan hadn’t said she was injured!

But the moment the other person saw her, she was still able to raise a smile.

Yu Jiuzhou’s expression was extremely cold, and a chill emanated from her body, a clear sign for others to keep their distance. It frightened everyone in the heated chamber into silence.

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow, not knowing why she seemed so angry.

It wasn’t until she was carried onto a palanquin, and then from the palanquin to the carriage returning to the Princess’s Residence, that she dared to ask a question.

“What did His Majesty say to Your Highness in the imperial study?”

To make Yu Jiuzhou so angry, he must have said something unpleasant.

Yu Jiuzhou stared at the unwiped bloodstain on the corner of Chi Wan’s lips and said coldly, “You’re injured?”

“No, I’m not.” Chi Wan was stunned for a moment, then followed her gaze and touched the corner of her own mouth. She suddenly remembered. “Your Highness means this? I forced this bit of blood out with my internal energy. Weren’t we supposed to be acting? This makes it more realistic.”

Yu Jiuzhou stared at Chi Wan intently for a while. Thinking of her high spirits while riding earlier, with no sign of injury, she immediately understood that she had been overthinking.

She turned her head away, slightly embarrassed, and said no more.

She fell silent, but Chi Wan tilted her head and stared at her profile. After a good while, she asked, “Was Your Highness worried about me?”

“No.”

“I think you were.”

Chi Wan chuckled. “I understand, Your Highness. If you’re concerned about me, you can just say it directly. If you hide it like this, what if I can’t tell sometimes?”

Listening to the smug words in her ear, Yu Jiuzhou almost wanted to reach out and cover her mouth.

But the anger she had felt from her encounter with the Emperor was healed in this moment.

One person treated her with disdain, while another tried every way to cheer her up. That was the difference.

Yu Jiuzhou gave her a charmingly annoyed glance. “Shut up.”

Chi Wan was mesmerized by that glance. This woman was just too beautiful.

That one look nearly stole her soul. Really, she had never seen this alluring side of Yu Jiuzhou before.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm?”

One called, the other answered.

Chi Wan leaned forward slightly, resting on the small table in front of her like a puppy begging to be petted, and brought her face close to Yu Jiuzhou’s.

Her body was slightly lower than Yu Jiuzhou’s, so she had to look up a little to meet her eyes.

The distance between them was less than a finger’s length, and she could clearly feel the pleasant scent from the other person lingering at the tip of her nose.

Chi Wan swallowed dryly. “It’s nothing. This servant was just wondering, does Your Highness know the meaning of ‘tsundere’?”

Yu Jiuzhou was puzzled. “The meaning of being arrogant and spoiled?”

Chi Wan smiled, her eyes crinkling. “It means being haughty and charmingly coy.”

“Just like Your Highness. You are so tough and disdainful towards everything, but your occasional shyness, coyness, and petulance are truly adorable.”

Yu Jiuzhou: “…”

As Chi Wan uttered those words, her face grew redder and redder, until finally, she managed to force out two words, “Shut up.”

---

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