"Qin Linglong?"
Yun Shu raised her eyes and looked at Qin Yiqing.
Qin Yiqing nodded. "You said that even I, who doesn't engage in internal family feuds or any other disputes, can see through some of Qin Linglong's thoughts. Then surely Princess Ningde, with her sharp wit, can see even more clearly. Isn't the reason Qin Linglong came today to let people know that there is still another woman by Prince Jin's side?"
Hearing this, Yun Shu's brows furrowed slightly.
Qin Yiqing continued, "This Qin Linglong is quite troublesome. She not only has feelings for Prince Jin, but she's also likely very possessive and doesn't want Prince Jin to like anyone else. This is quite different from the personality Qiu Lu investigated."
"People at different stages have different thoughts; it's normal. However, it is indeed a bit troublesome," Yun Shu said in a deep voice.
She didn't want to drag Qin Linglong into this.
Since it was still early days, should she find an opportunity to meet Qin Linglong?
Qin Yiqing, unusually astute, guessed Yun Shu's thoughts. "Are you planning to go and see Qin Linglong?"
"Yes, I do have that intention."
"It's indeed necessary to talk to her. Otherwise, if this continues, she will eventually harm herself. But doesn't she understand? It wasn't her who entered the palace that day, it was you who went in for her. Things happened in the palace. If she were even a little bit more sensible, she should have understood by now." Qin Yiqing seemed puzzled.
She, who was usually a bit muddle-headed, could clearly understand one matter, so why couldn't Qin Linglong see through it?
Yun Shu didn't elaborate, merely saying, "We'll know when I see her."
"Right, Princess Ningde entered the palace. Didn't Prince Ye break off their engagement yesterday? Why did she enter the palace today?" Qin Yiqing was full of confusion.
Yun Shu's expression turned serious. "Entering the palace doesn't necessarily mean she went to see Prince Ye."
"If not Prince Ye, then who?" Qin Yiqing asked, stunned.
Yun Shu's eyes deepened. "The palace isn't just Prince Ye. This engagement might not be so easy to break off."
Qin Yiqing's eyes widened gradually, looking as though she suddenly understood. "Ah! I get it, I understand! This... how will this be resolved?"
"The boat will naturally find its way across the bridge when it gets there." Yun Shu lowered her gaze and continued to fiddle with the pills in her hand.
Qin Yiqing stopped pondering and looked at the medicine in Yun Shu's hand. "Is this medicine for Ruan Xi?"
"Yes, he should arrive in the next couple of days. When he gets here, you go out and tell him everything about Prince Pingyang's manor," Yun Shu said softly.
Qin Yiqing pouted, looking somewhat reluctant. "I don't want to see him. Just looking at him makes me lose my appetite."
"Go, I'll give you a bottle of medicine as a gift." Yun Shu dangled the bait.
Qin Yiqing's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Yun Shu smiled. "When have I ever lied to you?"
"I'll go, I'll go, I'll go! I'll definitely go quickly!" Qin Yiqing's demeanor changed from reluctant and displeased to enthusiastic.
A joke! How could Ruan Xi compare to Yun Shu's pills?
For the sake of the pills, she'd go even if it meant meeting an enemy!
Hahahaha!
"I love you to death, Master!" Qin Yiqing could barely hide her smile.
She was overjoyed!
Yun Shu handed the nearby medicine bottle to Qin Yiqing. "Help me deliver this bottle of medicine to Young Master Zhen. Tell him to take one pill in the morning, noon, and night, after meals."
Qin Yiqing took it. "Got it!"
A moment later, Qin Yiqing returned after delivering the medicine.
Upon entering, she looked at Yun Shu with confusion and said, "I just delivered the medicine and saw Young Master Zhen. He looked rather dejected. Yesterday, when I saw him, he was fine. How today does he look as if he has no will to live?"
"It won't be anything serious, at most he's encountered some difficult matters." Yun Shu was confident in her medical skills. Zhen Lin's condition was already incomparable to what it was before, so there wouldn't be any issues with his illness.
If his state was poor now, it was likely due to psychological issues.
Often, slow progress in an illness was due to mental problems.
Let's wait two more days and see if Zhen Lin can adjust himself.
Qin Yiqing hummed and muttered, "What kind of difficult matters could they be?"
Yun Shu was not interested in this.
As she prepared the pills, she thought about the situation in the palace and the relationship between the Emperor of Western Xia and Zhan Tianye.
Seeing Yun Shu working diligently, Qin Yiqing didn't disturb her further.
She picked up a book at random to read.
After reading just two pages, she realized it was a medical book and felt dizzy. No wonder she couldn't understand it! Medical books were the most difficult to comprehend in the world!
She wanted to go to sleep!
...
The Imperial Study.
The Emperor summoned Zhan Tianye again.
The two played a game of chess.
It was still a close match.
They even had the palace attendants remove their dinner, and they only finished when it was completely dark.
Finally, they determined a winner.
It was Zhan Tianye again, who won.
The Emperor looked at the chessboard with lingering interest, recalling every move he had made. It seemed that none of his moves were wrong, and if he were to play again, he would make the same choices.
Yet, he still lost.
Having become careless over the years and not playing often, he now suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of his own son. The Emperor thought this was a good thing; it served as a reminder that even though he was the Emperor and held a high position, with few daring to defy him, he had to remain vigilant, cautious, and in control of everything.
For example, there was one matter.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Zhan Tianye spoke, "Your Majesty summoned this son because there is something on your mind."
The Emperor withdrew his thoughts and nodded with a gentle smile. "Indeed, there is. I met Princess Ningde today." He observed Zhan Tianye's reaction, which was completely impassive.
It seemed he was not satisfied with Princess Ningde.
However, a woman was just a woman. Whether he was satisfied or not, she could be kept as a mere decoration, seen or unseen, slept with or not. She was just a decorative piece.
"She told me that you wish to break off the engagement?" the Emperor asked, his tone still gentle.
From his tone and demeanor, it was impossible to discern the Emperor's true intentions.
"That is indeed so." Zhan Tianye admitted directly.
Besides that one person, he wanted no one else by his side.
The Emperor sighed, with a hint of helplessness. "Jin'er, this engagement cannot be broken off. If you don't want to wrong the woman in your heart, then in the future, you can just keep Princess Ningde at a distance. A woman is just a woman; as long as she is useful to you, that's enough."
"This son..." Zhan Tianye's expression turned cold, and he spoke resolutely.
But before he could finish his words, the Emperor raised his hand to stop him. "There's no need to say more. There is no room for negotiation on this matter. She must be Prince Jin's consort. You will understand the reason later. As for any other women you wish to arrange around you, you are free to do so; I will absolutely not interfere."
The Emperor looked at Zhan Tianye's even colder expression and his attitude softened slightly.