Spring arrives and the land smiles

Inside the Daqi Yi Hotel, Qingyan held a teacup, waiting for Haitu's reply.

"If you wish to meet her, you should make a decision soon. Keeping her waiting might cause trouble. Yesterday, Ina was feeling slightly unwell, and I sent someone to deliver a letter to the King of Guici. I think Princess Ina's childhood sweetheart cousin will be coming to Shengjing to pick her up soon. Therefore, I urge Your Highness to make a decision as soon as possible."

"You!" Hai Tu's face contorted with rage as he slammed the doll in his hand onto the coffee table, where it shattered with a crack.

Qingyan was startled, and her hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Could it be that she was really being pushed too hard?

After calming herself down, Qingyan stood up and walked to the sea chart. She bent down and picked up the doll that had been split in two. Judging from the neatness of the crack, she knew that she had used all her strength just now.

"Years of snow disasters have reduced the population of Qiu Rong to a far cry from its peak. Am I wrong?" Qing Yan carefully examined the nautical chart. Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, she gently placed the doll on the table and continued, "Opening ports, establishing diplomatic relations, and lending land are absolutely beneficial to Qiu Rong at this time. Now, if you agree to my terms, you can have everything without losing a single soldier, and you can even have a beauty in your arms. What are you hesitating for? A hundred years ago, Qiu Rong belonged to my Great Qi. You are simply reclaiming history."

These last words touched Hai Tu slightly for a moment, and he seemed to relax. Qing Yan understood.

By submitting to the emperor, Hai Tu was actually looking for an excuse to convince himself.

For a long time, the room was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

It has indeed been a long time.

“I agree.” Haitu slapped the coffee table and stood up.

"Alright, I'll arrange for you to meet Ina tomorrow." The wait was finally over.

“Princess Pingqiu, this time you truly deserve it.” Hai Tu’s words sounded somewhat gritted through his teeth.

Admittedly, her father did have this intention when he bestowed this title upon her.

"It's a win-win situation, each getting what they need." Qingyan smiled faintly. Although it seemed that Daqi was the winner, Qiu Rong also had both wins and losses, depending on how one calculated it.

"Please send a letter to Tat Khan as soon as possible, Your Highness." Since the matter has been settled, there is no need to linger. Qingyan bowed and took his leave.

Because the matter they were discussing was very intimate, the two dismissed their surroundings. Just as Qingyan was about to push open the door to leave, they almost inaudibly heard Haitu sigh softly: "I wasn't entirely insincere those days either. Ina's lips are very much like yours."

Lips? What a lecherous man. Qingyan once again scorned Ina's taste.

Qingyan returned to Xuanhua Palace and learned that Ina was taking a nap, so she went to Bolanzhai alone.

"Haitu agreed." Qingyan was filled with this good news and immediately thought of sharing it with Yunxuan. Why immediately? Qingyan attributed it to Ning Yuan's absence.

Yunxuan was writing a memorial in his study when Qingyan burst in with a beaming smile, so he put down his writing brush.

"Princess, please slow down and take care of yourself." As expected, Zhui'er exclaimed in alarm.

"Zhui'er, you should go back to Caiyi Palace first. When Princess Ina wakes up, send her all the medicinal meals that the imperial physician prescribed for me. Do not neglect them." Qingyan turned her head to give the order and sat down on her own.

“Princess, this…” Zhui’er was a little embarrassed. Those were all for pregnant women. Why would Princess Ina, a young lady, eat those?

"Stop arguing and go quickly." Qingyan waved Zhuier away.

Having no choice but to obey her master's orders, Zhui'er left dejectedly.

"I thought I'd have to do a lot of persuasion, but he actually agreed." Qingyan was overjoyed, her joy evident in her words.

"How is Ina doing?" Yunxuan was not surprised by the result.

“Haitu has protected him very well; she knows nothing.” Qingyan thought of Ina’s innocent appearance and felt a little reluctant to hide it from her. Well, as Mr. Ji Xianlin once said, “Never tell a complete lie, but don’t tell the whole truth.”

Is the pregnancy true?

Qingyan nodded and said, "It has been more than a month."

"You two pregnant women can exchange experiences together," Yunxuan teased.

"I'm also worried about this matter." Qingyan had no intention of joking. To tell the truth would be a crime of deceiving the emperor; not to tell would be a criminal deceiving the emperor.

"Has Yan'er ever thought about actually having a child?" Yunxuan asked in a low voice, without leaving a trace.

"I have indeed thought about it." Qingyan looked at Yunxuan, but deliberately avoided the loneliness in his heart. "The imperial physician comes to check my pulse every day. What if the medicine wears off one day? I'm afraid the truth will eventually come out."

"Yan'er is almost eighteen, isn't she? She's reached the age where she should be having children." Yunxuan turned his head and looked out the window.

From a modern medical perspective, the optimal age for women to give birth is between 24 and 29. Women in this age group are at their most physically developed and mentally mature. Although childbirth is inevitable, Qingyan initially had no intention of having children earlier. Even in today's civilized environment, waiting until 24 to conceive would be extremely difficult. However, for the sake of the quality of her offspring, she was willing to take the plunge. But this unexpected pregnancy has immediately brought the issue to the forefront.

“Yunxuan is twenty-two this year, right? In an ordinary family, he would probably be a father by now.” Qingyan lowered her eyelids; she couldn’t look Yunxuan in the eye.

“That’s great, we can make a couple and have children together.” Yunxuan’s gloomy expression vanished as he looked at Qingyan with amusement.

"Yunxuan!" Qingyan called out to stop him, the forced smile piercing her heart. "I'm sorry."

"Yan'er, how many times have you apologized to me?" Yun Xuan looked at her amusedly. Of course, he knew why she apologized, but he was prepared for a long battle. It had only been half a year, so there was no need to rush anything.

"Yunxuan, I owe you so much, when will I ever be able to repay it!" Qingyan struggled to gaze at Yunxuan, knowing that she had to face it eventually. Perhaps, sooner, it wouldn't hurt so much.

"Why should I return it? I am also your consort. Even if I am not as close as Ningyuan, I don't think I would be jealous of such useless things. Yan'er has gradually developed feelings for me, hasn't she?" Yunxuan still smiled gently. "Don't worry, I won't compete with Ningyuan for favor."

"You...?" She knew he'd be so nonchalant, and Qingyan was helpless. Fine, she'd just leave it at that, and pay him back later.

“Ina wants to meet with Haitu. I plan to arrange for them to meet privately tomorrow. What do you think?” Qingyan got back to the main topic.

“That’s excellent. It will reassure them and satisfy their wishes, and it poses no threat to us,” Yunxuan agreed.

"Then I will arrange for them to meet at the Yi Hotel tomorrow."

Yunxuan nodded.

That night, Qingyan, under the pretext of caring for Ina's health, kept her in Caiyi Palace to eat and sleep with him, ensuring the best possible protection for this important asset. Ina, who trusted Qingyan completely by this point, readily agreed.

The next morning, after having breakfast with Ina, Qingyan dressed her up as a palace maid and led her to the Yibin Hotel. It was better to be open and aboveboard than to hide and arouse suspicion. Today, because of the previous assassination incident, Qingyan, as the Crown Prince, was visiting envoys from various countries at the Yibin Hotel, which was perfectly reasonable. And surely no one would notice the little palace maid beside him.

Upon entering the Yibin Hotel, Qingyan went straight to the West Pavilion where Haitu was staying. As usual, she asked Haitu a few questions about the assassins. Seeing that he couldn't give her a clear answer, she handed Ina over to Haitu, leaving Siyou and Siwu to keep watch in secret. Then she turned and went to the East Pavilion, the residence of the Southern Xia Foreign Envoy Delegation.

In truth, given the status of the Southern Xia envoy, such a level of hospitality was unwarranted. Although nominally an official appointed by the Southern Xia emperor, the envoy held only a fourth-rank official position, and their visit to the Great Qi was merely a routine diplomatic exchange. Generally, to demonstrate the Great Qi's goodwill, the level of hospitality would be raised, but it wouldn't warrant providing them with the entire East Pavilion unless they requested it and there were vacant rooms in the guesthouse. In previous years, Southern Xia envoys had never made such a request, but this year's envoy, Lu Changlin, immediately requested a private courtyard upon arrival in Shengjing, and his entourage had doubled. On the surface, this seemed innocuous, but upon closer examination, it became clear that one of his entourage possessed a rather unusual and powerful identity.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess." Lu Changlin's manners were impeccable.

Qingyan raised her hand in a gesture of support, saying, "Lord Lu, you must be tired from your journey. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality." These were merely polite formalities.

"Your Highness is too kind." Lu Changlin still couldn't quite figure out this newly appointed crown prince.

As usual, she asked about the assassination incident, but Lu Changlin hesitated and stammered, which made Qingyan suspicious.

The assassins were indeed after Nanxia.

“Princess Pingqiu, we meet again.” A young man in a bright blue robe walked out from the inner hall, holding a delicate little dagger in his hand.

Who else could this be but the bewitching fifth prince of the Southern Xia Kingdom?

"Your Highness Prince Zhao, how have you been?" Qingyan smiled slightly.

"You may step back now." Lan Zhen waved to Lu Changlin, who bowed and withdrew.

"Princess, may I speak with you in private?" Lan Zhen glanced at the attendants behind Qing Yan, seemingly somewhat cautious.

Lan Zhen's actions greatly surprised Qing Yan. After thinking for a while, Qing Yan dismissed everyone around, leaving only the two of them sitting facing each other in the room.

"Why is Your Highness being so cautious?" Qingyan was puzzled by the usually arrogant Prince Zhao's actions.

The servants all left, and at this moment, the teasing in Lan Zhen's eyes was gone, replaced by a solemn expression.

"Yesterday's assassin was someone I deliberately arranged." Lan Zhen lowered her voice, revealing her hand to Qing Yan with her very first sentence.

"Why?" Qingyan was even more surprised.

Qingyan had initially thought the assassin was related to Lan Zhen, and at most, he was there to assassinate him. However, figuring out the mastermind was more troublesome, as he didn't know much about this Fifth Prince of Nanxia, ​​let alone who his deadly enemies were. But since the assassin was here, and within Daqi territory, Qingyan still wanted to do everything in his power to protect him and prevent any diplomatic incidents. However, his next move was completely baffling to Qingyan.

Lan Zhen leaned closer to Qing Yan and whispered, "The night before last, I discovered that Lu Changlin was having a secret meeting with your Prince Jin of Daqi." He glanced at Qing Yan, paused, and continued, "Therefore, Lu Changlin must be my eldest brother's man."

"You mean they'll take some action?" Qingyan asked in surprise.

"Then, what is the assassin's intention?" Qingyan continued to press.

Could it be that he wants to kill Lu Changlin? If this Prince Zhao is such a fool, then Shen Qingyan has really misjudged him. If he kills one Lu Changlin, there will be another. Can he kill them all?

“Last night I had a trusted confidant impersonate my eldest brother’s men to assassinate me, and I also left clues for Lu Changlin.” Lan Zhen paused. “Lu Changlin is ambitious and eager for glory. If he is certain that it was my eldest brother who did it, he will definitely act first and report later to claim credit.”

"You really want to die?" Qingyan covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Little Yan'er, with you here, I can't bear to die." Lan Zhen winked ambiguously, a teasing look on his face.

"Speak, what do you want me to do?" Lan Zhen's expression was as annoying as ever to Qing Yan.

Lan Zhen put away her joke and became serious: "Let Lu Changlin confirm from you that the person who wants to kill me is indeed the eldest prince."

Qingyan felt a chill run down her spine and began to make plans.

I have no grudge against the Crown Prince of Nanxia, ​​and we don't even have any interaction. Therefore, I have no motive to frame him. In addition, the Crown Prince is a man of his word. As a result, Lu Changlin believed me without a doubt.

However, if the Crown Prince of Nanxia finds out about this, he will surely hate me to the core, which would greatly benefit Prince Jin. It would force me to make an enemy in Nanxia, ​​in addition to Lan Zhen, my so-called ally with ulterior motives. Either I become your enemy or you become your ally, Lan Zhen, you are truly cunning!

"What if I refuse?" Qingyan asked with a smile, tilting her head, but her eyes were very serious.

“My eldest brother already has one wife and two concubines, and you don’t think much of him,” Lan Zhen replied, staring into Qing Yan’s eyes. “Besides, he’s not as good-looking as me.” After saying that, he winked at Qing Yan ambiguously.

You shouldn't have thought he could be serious at all. Qingyan rolled her eyes at him.

Because of Lan Zhen's previous help, she really had no reason to refuse. Besides, she didn't know much about the eldest prince of Nanxia. Rather than gambling on this uncertain unknown, she should focus on doing her best in the present.

but--

"I need to know the reason." Why deliberately lure Lu Changlin to assassinate him? If it were just to frame the Crown Prince, there would be no need to take this risk. Besides, in a foreign country, evidence of a frame-up seems far less compelling than in China. It is said that the Crown Prince of Nanxia enjoys the Emperor's deep trust and is the strongest competitor for the position of Crown Prince. Moreover, the Emperor of Nanxia is not an incompetent fool; this frame-up would be easily discovered by him. How much it would affect him, or who would be affected, is truly unknown.

Qingyan was genuinely puzzled.

Lan Zhen poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said softly, as if to answer Qingyan's question: "I have been guarding the border with General Li Muqing since I was fourteen years old. I have always stayed out of the struggle for the throne. I neither formed cliques nor colluded with the maternal relatives. Even my father thought that I had no intention of vying for the throne, let alone the other princes."

"So, you're going to tell everyone about your disloyal intentions?" This Lan Zhen is so high-profile, I don't know whether to call him stupid or just incredibly skilled and daring.

“If I don’t take the initiative to stand out, Father won’t even give me a chance.” Lan Zhen looked at Qing Yan, his eyes shining as if they were focused. “Nanxia has eleven princes, the youngest of whom is already fifteen. Your Daqi only has one crown prince who can succeed to the throne, and she is a woman. I don’t think you would understand no matter how I explain it.”

Of course I understand. The struggle for the throne among Kangxi's nine sons in his later years has been made into various movies and TV series, recreating history again and again, fabricating it again and again. How could I not know about the intrigue and backstabbing involved? Qingyan thought to herself.

However, it was inconvenient to explain, so I could only say, "I understand, my imperial grandfather also had eight sons. My father was one of them who became a king or marquis."

Lan Zhen was taken aback. This princess, raised in seclusion, could not be ignored in terms of her status as the crown prince.

"Now that I have laid out my bottom line, I hope the princess will give a clear answer." Although it was a request, Lan Zhen was full of confidence, and her tone perfectly captured Qing Yan's thoughts.

"Okay, I promise you."

"Thank you, Princess." Lan Zhen looked deeply at Qing Yan, and her words of gratitude were truly sincere.

"Are your assassins reliable?" Qingyan suddenly remembered the piece of fabric in her hand that was supposedly an assassin's uniform. The workmanship looked rushed. Could it be that Lan Zhen had temporarily found some bandits and thieves to impersonate assassins? If the Crown Prince felt he had been wronged and insisted on finding out the truth, and the investigation led to these fake assassins, then she would also be implicated.

"They are all my brothers from many years in the military, I can absolutely trust them," Lan Zhen assured him.

So that's how it is; night-clothes weren't the everyday clothes that generals were provided with.

Qingyan nodded, indicating that she was relieved.