The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 297 Secret Trump Card

"It's all because of that beast Gu Lounan! Not only did he betray us and cause the deaths of more than ten generals, but he also switched sides to Xiahou Jue's camp during the battle. If I could see that bastard, I would definitely..." As she spoke, Yin Quan suddenly realized, "I forgot you're his brother..."

Gu Changxi smiled and said, "You could say yes or no. We've always gone in different directions since we were young, whether it's politics or something else. Madam, you don't need to mind." Yin Quan suddenly blushed, feeling a little embarrassed by the title "Madam."

"What madam... just call me Yin Quan." Gu Changxi always gave off such a comfortable feeling, like the gentle willow catkins in spring. Gu Changxi smiled, and Xiahou Ying's voice came from behind them, "What are you saying, laughing so happily?"

"I find Madam to be an interesting person." Xiahou Ying ruffled Yin Quan's hair. "Changxi isn't well, don't bother him too much." Yin Quan rolled her eyes at him, thinking he was just jealous of her chatting with other men...

Yin Quan nodded sullenly, "I understand." Gu Changxi stood up, and only then did Yin Quan notice his leg disability. Chunxi hurriedly handed him a crutch, and Gu Changxi gestured for him to come to the study. "Please come with me to the study." Looking at Gu Changxi's limping figure, Yin Quan suddenly felt a pang of heartache. What kind of experiences had he gone through to turn such a gentle and refined man into this?

After the three entered the study, Jing Yu brought over a brazier and placed it in front of Gu Changxi, taking his fox fur coat. She also handed him a hot water bottle, saying, "Brother Changxi, if you're cold, come inside. It's not good to sit for too long." Gu Changxi nodded, and the group sat cross-legged.

"What are your plans this time, Your Highness?"

“Gu Lounan has really put me in a difficult position this time. Do you know who he’s been getting close to lately?” Gu Changxi poked at the embers in the brazier. “Gu Lounan has always been a member of the Crown Prince’s faction. After he fell out with the Crown Prince, he has been following you ever since. As for the others, I don’t know anything about them. After all, I can’t get involved in the affairs of the clan.”

Xiahou Ying handed Yin Quan a cup of tea. "The master of Chonglou Manor is away from the manor most of the year, and he is probably not up to the task of managing the family affairs, unlike Changxi, who is both capable and responsible, isn't she?" Yin Quan raised her eyes and carefully observed Gu Changxi's expression. Was she planning to set Gu Lounan's backyard on fire? It was indeed a brilliant move.

"What does Madam think?" Yin Quan was stunned for a second, not expecting Gu Changxi to turn the topic to her. "Young Master Gu... Young Master Gu is willing to step in for us, so naturally many things will be easier to handle."

"Is the artifact you're referring to, Madam?"

"Of course, we also hope that you can take over the management of Chonglou Manor from Gu Lounan. After all, given his character, Chonglou Manor will probably be destroyed soon."

Gu Changxi smiled calmly, "How does Madam know that my character is without fault?" Yin Quan hesitated, "At least you seem better than him, and Xiahou Ying trusts you so much, you can't be bad." Xiahou Ying looked at her and smiled knowingly.

"Madam speaks frankly and directly, which is pleasant to hear, unlike someone who always wants to drag me into some unknown conspiracy." After saying that, she lifted her eyelids and looked at Xiahou Ying.

Xiahou Ying remained calm and composed. "If you want me to speak frankly, why beat around the bush? It seems that even though you don't leave the house, you are still very well-informed. The tentacles of Tinghailou are getting longer and longer. You already know about Qifeng Manor?" Yin Quan looked at Gu Changxi in surprise. Tinghailou had always been a mysterious organization in her mind. Judging from Xiahou Ying's words, Tinghailou was actually run by Gu Changxi.

The seemingly powerless man before them was actually the leader of a renowned organization in the martial arts world. Gu Changxi poured a cup of hot tea and pushed two cups in front of the two men. "The artifact of Qifeng Manor was stolen. Although you did it very secretly, it's not difficult for someone with the right intentions to find out. The Crown Prince knew about this, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry to kill you?"

“You’ve hit the nail on the head, but do you really believe the saying that whoever possesses the divine artifact will rule the world?” Gu Changxi raised her eyes, her gaze meaningful. “Isn’t the prince determined to conquer the world? My life is entirely in your hands.”

Yin Quan silently sipped her tea, sensing that the relationship between the two was definitely not ordinary. Just who exactly was Gu Changxi?

"If you two want the divine artifact, you must obtain the approval of all the clan leaders of Chonglou Manor, and most importantly, you need the sect leader's key. If I remember correctly, although Gu Lounan has taken over as sect leader, he has not yet held an inheritance ceremony, so the key to the divine artifact should still be with the old manor lord." The manor lord Gu Changxi mentioned was his father, but his tone was not affectionate at all.

"Changxi, what do you think we should do? You know I've always supported you becoming the head of the estate." Gu Changxi paused in her work. "What are your bargaining chips now, Your Highness?" Xiahou Ying lowered his eyes and quietly sipped his tea.

Yin Quan couldn't sit still any longer. "Brother Gu, although we don't have the advantage right now, Gu Lounan might not be able to tolerate you once he gains power. So, while we are helping ourselves, we are also helping you. Moreover, if we want to seize the divine artifact, I'm afraid it really is just the two of us in this world."

Gu Changxi looked at Yin Quan with a puzzled expression, "What do you mean by that, Madam?" "Divine artifacts choose their masters, but who is the destined master of this world? I think Brother Gu, with your good connections, must know the rumors about Tianji Mountain, right?" Gu Changxi's eyes lit up, and he put the hot water bottle in his hand aside and respectfully bowed to the two of them.

"I will do my utmost." Gu Changxi bowed with great respect. Although he did not know what connection he had with Xiahou Ying, their relationship seemed to be extremely secretive, and even Gu Lounan probably did not know.

After a brief discussion about their itinerary for the next two days, Gu Changxi arranged for them to stay in a guest room. Yin Quan, having washed away the fatigue of the past few days, was finally able to rest properly, and her tension had lessened considerably. Xiahou Ying, however, remained seated by the window, his fingers twitching slightly as he fell into deep thought. Yin Quan drifted off to sleep, and when she awoke, it was already late. Xiahou Ying was nowhere to be found. Yin Quan rubbed her rumbling stomach and decided to go out to find something to eat.

As soon as she stepped outside, she heard a violent coughing fit. Yin Quan quietly slipped next door and saw Jing Yu supporting Xiahou Ying, who was coughing terribly. "Your Highness, this can't go on. You're coughing up blood..." Xiahou Ying waved his hand, "Don't tell the Princess Consort. Everything will be alright once we find the divine artifact." Yin Quan paused, a pang of sorrow in her heart. Had Xiahou Ying been putting on a brave face in front of her all along? How much he must have been enduring.

"Jing Yu, you can go now. I'll take care of the Prince." Xiahou Ying stiffened. "Why are you here?" Jing Yu sighed and gently closed the door. "Xiahou Ying, why did you keep this from me? We've come this far together, don't we even have this much trust?"

"It's nothing, I can still manage. There's no point in telling you, it would only make you worry." Yin Quan took the handkerchief Xiahou Ying had used, and the red plum blossoms on it made her heart clench. Had his poison gotten that bad?

“Let’s go to Chonglou Manor tomorrow. Didn’t Gu Changxi just say that the triennial Qingzhuang Conference is about to begin? Let’s find an opportunity to sneak in and gather some clues.” Xiahou Ying shook his head. “This matter is not so simple. Chonglou Manor is the top of the four manors and is definitely not an easy place to break into. Although Gu Lounan is not here, his capable assistant Qing Yuan is still here. That woman is not an easy person to deal with.”

Yin Quan said firmly, "Our main goal this time is to make Gu Lounan's backyard catch fire and he can't take care of himself. Since time is so tight, what are we waiting for?" "We are waiting for the people from Tinghailou. Although Tinghailou is just an organization that sells information in the martial arts world, no one knows that there is a group of very powerful masters in Tinghailou, and they rarely show their faces in the martial arts world."

Yin Quan frowned and pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands and said, "Are you planning to have the people from Tinghailou attack Chonglou Manor? And then seize the divine artifact in the chaos?" Xiahou Ying nodded and patted Yin Quan's head approvingly, "You've made rapid progress, but this isn't our last trump card. Although Gu Changxi lives a secluded life, he has a group of idle scholars around him. Most of these people are from poor families and are not highly regarded in the court."

“Actually, they are all capable and vengeful. Once we give them this opportunity, they will definitely become our help!” Yin Quan became more and more excited as he thought about it. He originally thought that the two of them had reached a dead end, but now it seems that Xia Hongying’s move was to put them in a desperate situation and then live.

Not only did he create dissidents around him, but he also cultivated a new group of loyal confidants. "It's good, but can this Gu Changxi be trusted?" Xiahou Ying changed his posture; he was getting tired of sitting for so long.

"Although Gu Changxi and Gu Lounan are half-brothers, he was quite favored when he was young because his mother was Gu Lounan's father's favorite concubine. However, in order to make him the heir, Gu Lounan's mother poisoned Gu Changxi's mother and also made Gu Changxi disabled. Although Gu Lounan's father still doted on him, how could a disabled person become the head of a manor?"

Gu Changxi's experience is somewhat similar to Xiahou Ying's; both are burdened with a blood feud. "He has managed to endure until today, which truly shows his talent." Xiahou Ying nodded. "His political acumen is extraordinary, and I would never reveal his trump card unless it is a critical moment."

“But why do you trust him so much? After all, he is Gu Lounan’s brother.” Xiahou Ying shook his head. “There is a fundamental difference between the two of them. Gu Changxi is not loyal to me or the world, while Gu Lounan is only loyal to himself.”

Yin Quan looked at Xiahou Ying, whose face was pale, with a pang of heartache and said, "Let me help you lie down. I don't want to be your vine anymore. Let me be the tree you can lean on. Xiahou Ying, I'm not as weak as I thought. I can protect myself and protect you!" Xiahou Ying had just lain down when he started coughing again, his face turning slightly red.