Transmigrated into a cunning princess, she sets her sights on a celibate royal uncle.

Huo Jingxuan chuckled self-deprecatingly: "What are you saying? That Jiang Ji is not the late emperor's son?"

"They say that although their mother didn't share a room with Lin Qian, she actually had an affair with another man before marrying the late emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Que's expression changed drastically: "What exactly is going on? Wasn't it rumored that Xiao Qi wasn't the late emperor's biological son? How did it become Jiang Ji?"

Before marrying the late emperor, Jiang Xi's mother, Consort Yang, had a beloved man, but the Yang family disagreed, so they deceived the late emperor.

Not long after her marriage, Yang Guifei discovered that she was pregnant. She then confessed to the late emperor and asked him to grant her death.

However, the late emperor needed the Yang family's assistance, so he did not make a fuss about it.

Later, the late emperor secretly executed Yang Guifei's beloved man and handed Jiang Ji over to my grandfather to take to the battlefield, intending for him to die on the battlefield!

In this way, we can wash away this shame without anyone knowing!

Upon hearing this, Shang Que nearly dropped his jaw in shock: "My God, this is too chaotic! Are you sure this is all true? The late emperor... this..."

Shang Que felt he didn't know what to say!

"The late emperor was ruthless. All those people from back then, except for Yang Tingzhou, are dead. It's hard to tell who's real and who's fake!" Huo Jingxuan sighed.

This is why he didn't tell Jiang Xi, because he didn't know if it was true or not.

"Putting all that aside, are you planning to let Xiaoqi misunderstand you like this for the rest of her life?"

Huo Jingxuan smiled coldly: "Let's leave it at that for now. As long as she's willing to stay by my side, I'll do whatever it takes!"

Shang Que disagreed, but couldn't resist his curiosity: "May I ask you a treasonous question?"

Huo Jingxuan raised an eyebrow: "If I said no, you wouldn't ask anymore?"

Just then, Jiang Xi, who had just returned after pouring the water, walked to the door.

Then, a questioning voice came from inside: "Do you want that position or not?"

Jiang Xi stopped in her tracks, and even her breathing became lighter.

What Shang Que asked was actually what she also wanted to know.

A long silence filled the room, so long that Jiang Xi thought Huo Jingxuan wouldn't answer.

Only then did a firm voice be heard: "Yes!"

Jiang Xi let out a long breath. She knew it. How could someone like Huo Jingxuan be content to be just a subject?

"If I were to reach my position, I would be forever suspected by the emperor unless I resigned and returned to my hometown."

But if I resign, the entire Huo family will likely be implicated, and the new emperor will not treat my family well.

The four pillar states will surely take advantage of my misfortune, I have no way out!

Huo Jingxuan looked into Shang Que's eyes and spoke frankly.

Shang Que was stunned for a moment. Perhaps from the moment he agreed to assist the late emperor, his fate was already sealed.

There is no other way but to either discard the bow after the birds are all gone, or to fight to the death!

Just then, the door creaked open as Jiang Xi pushed it open from the outside and walked in nonchalantly.

Seeing that Huo Jingxuan's chest wound had been bandaged, she carefully pulled up his outer robe for him.

"It's getting late, I'm going back to my room now. Xiao Qi, take good care of your senior brother!"

Before leaving, Shang Que turned around and gave Jiang Xi some instructions.

"Yes!" Jiang Xi nodded.

After Shang Que left, she went up to close the door and silently walked to the stove, adding some charcoal into it.

The winter was cold, and Huo Jingxuan was already injured; he absolutely could not afford to catch another cold.

Let me help you to bed to rest!

Jiang Xitian lit the charcoal fire, walked to Huo Jingxuan's side, took his arm, and helped him to the bed.

At night, the two lay side by side in bed, neither of them sleepy, and neither of them spoke first.

In the darkness, breathing shallowly, Jiang Xi couldn't help but turn to face Huo Jingxuan and reach out to touch his hard-featured face.

"Uncle, I am truly sorry for stabbing you..."

Jiang Xi's voice was very soft, but she knew Huo Jingxuan could hear her.

Sure enough, Huo Jingxuan turned his face towards her: "Actually, you were very good to me when we were little. You were the second person, after my brother, to be so good to me..."

I liked you so much back then!

As Jiang Xi spoke, she unconsciously put her arm around Huo Jingxuan's shoulder, not daring to use too much force for fear of touching his wound.

Huo Jingxuan felt a mix of emotions upon hearing Jiang Xi's words.

"So now, do you still like it?"

“Now…” Jiang Xi hesitated, “I still like it now!”

This is the truth!

But while she liked it, she had more important things to do.

Huo Jingxuan sensed the hesitation in Jiang Xi's words, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

"If I ever really die, it will definitely be at your hands, because... your eyes are so deceiving!"

As Huo Jingxuan spoke, he reached out and gently touched Jiang Xi's eyebrows and eyes with his fingertips.

Jiang Xi was beautiful, with bright eyes and a clear, innocent look in them. Even in the darkness, he could imagine her clear gaze.

Jiang Xi grasped Huo Jingxuan's dry, warm hand and pressed it against her heart: "If my royal uncle dies, how about I, A-Xi, am buried with you?"

Huo Jingxuan frowned subconsciously, sensing that this was not a good thing to say.

"I don't want you to be buried with me. If you can really kill me, I want you to live peacefully and without guilt!"

Jiang Xi's tears flowed instantly.

She hadn't felt this kind of warmth for a long time since her brother's death.

Resting her head on Huo Jingxuan's shoulder, inhaling the unique scent of agarwood emanating from him, Jiang Xi silently shed tears.

As soon as Huo Jingxuan's carriage entered the capital, the news reached two places: the Xie residence and the imperial palace.

"Pillar of State, Huo Jingxuan has not only returned alive, but Longyue has also been captured alive and is now imprisoned in the Surveillance Department. She will likely implicate you soon! We should make plans as soon as possible!"

Zhou Chen, Xie Jiayun's deputy general, immediately sought advice from Xie Jiayun.

Xie Jiayun, his face deathly pale, slumped into the chair behind him, slamming his hand on the armrest in frustration.

"I shouldn't have trusted this Longyue!"

"What should we do now?"

Zhou Chen was now extremely panicked, fearing that the Regent would burst in with his sword and troops at any moment.

In contrast, Xie Jiayun was more composed: "Don't worry, Longyue wouldn't dare to betray me. The only remaining descendant of the Xiao family is in my hands, unless he wants the Xiao family to die out!"

Before being executed, Oborozuki had a son with a courtesan.

Before Xie Jiayun decided to cooperate with Longyue, he had already firmly grasped the hand of this child who was only seven years old.

With this child, he was completely at ease knowing that Longyue wouldn't betray him.

Meanwhile, in the palace, the new emperor Jiang Gu also learned from his personal eunuch Xiao Fuzi that Huo Jingxuan had returned to the capital.

"Xie Jiayun is really useless!"

Jiang Gu slammed his fist on the table, his expression furious.

Xiao Fuzi was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Jiang Gu was stunned for a moment, his anger freezing on his face, but then he thought of something and his mood improved.

"However, now that the Imperial Uncle has returned safely, Xie Zhuguo is in trouble. If either of them dies, I will be happy to see it happen! Hahaha!"

Xiao Fuzi was filled with trepidation. He had just been promoted and was not yet used to His Majesty's unpredictable moods, so he was somewhat apprehensive.