Chapter 45: Yan Ruqing's Ambition

"That being the case, it must be my fault, Ruxing. I offer my apologies to the Princess here and hope the Princess can be magnanimous and not hold it against me!" Yan Ruxing paused for a moment before abruptly speaking in this manner.

Faced with Yan Ruxing's sudden change in attitude, Yan Ziyu frowned, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"It's of no consequence. Just see that you don't repeat it next time. We are sisters in the same family, after all; naturally, I won't fuss over it too much." Yan Ruxing's submissiveness only made Yan Ziyu more on her guard. While speaking in such a manner, her gaze never left Yan Ruxing for even a second.

"As the saying goes, a visitor never comes without a purpose. What is the Eldest Miss Yan's objective for this trip? Please state it plainly. I am somewhat indisposed today and keep feeling drowsy—look at that, I'm already wanting to go back to my room to sleep." Yan Ziyu yawnled, beginning to issue a hint for her guest to leave.

Yan Ruxing stepped forward two paces, walked over to the stone stool in front of Yan Ziyu, and sat down slowly, saying, "Actually, there is no particular matter, except that I have too many worries on my mind and wish to find someone to talk to. Thinking of the pleasant times we sisters spent together in the manor back then, I cannot help but feel a touch of sentimentality. Knowing that the Princess is thoughtful and delicate, I wanted to come and ask the Princess to help me brainstorm a little, so as to spare me from fretting to the point of losing sleep at night."

Yan Ziyu knew the main point was about to arrive. A sharp gleam flashed through her eyes, and she said with a hint of wariness, "Eldest Miss Yan, speak your mind directly. I am well aware of how matters stand. If it is something I can assist with, what harm is there in helping? If I cannot help, then there is nothing to be done."

"Sigh!" Yan Ruxing first heaved a sigh before slowly recounting the matter...

"The Princess must have heard before that the Empress once bestowed upon me a phoenix-tail hairpin. Crafted in the shape of an auspicious simurgh and phoenix, its lifelike posture is extraordinarily vivid. It is said that this phoenix-tail hairpin was originally a gift given by the founding Emperor to his favorite concubine, and it is a priceless treasure. Because the Empress holds me in deep affection, she bestowed the phoenix-tail hairpin upon me..."

"I am familiar with these historical anecdotes. Eldest Miss Yan may skip straight to the point." Yan Ziyu yawned, cutting short Yan Ruxing's narrative.

A vicious glint flashed across the depths of Yan Ruxing's eyes, and her red lips parted slightly as she uttered, "The phoenix-tail hairpin is missing!" A single sentence caused Yan Ziyu's eyes to snap wide open.

The phoenix-tail hairpin is missing!

What is the meaning of this? Her possession is lost, so why come to me? Could it be that she intends to pin the blame on me?

Yan Ziyu frowned, the look she gave Yan Ziyu carrying an extra edge of sharpness.

"Eldest Miss Yan is being far too careless. How could you lose such a precious object? If this reaches the ears of the Empress, it will be a grave offense!" Yan Ziyu remarked with a flat tone.

"Indeed, I was far too careless. Fortunately, the thief who stole the phoenix-tail hairpin has been caught. What gives me a headache, however, is that the maid who stole the hairpin is a person from the Princess's quarters, which truly leaves me at a loss as to how to handle this. Alas!" Yan Ziyu watched as the expression on Yan Ziyu's face shifted, the corners of her own mouth unconsciously curling upward in a surge of triumphant delight.

Yan Ziyu frowned. "A person from my quarters stole your phoenix-tail hairpin? Is there proof?"

"Naturally, caught in the act with the stolen goods!" Yan Ruxing lifted her alluring chin and continued, "That maid is called Meizi, one of the servants assigned to wait upon the Princess during these past two days of her stay at the General's Mansion. Normally, this maid is exceptionally obedient, honest, and reticent. Yet this time she has committed such a monstrous transgression. Believing there must be an underlying story to this, I investigated thoroughly and discovered that indeed, there is more to the matter than meets the eye."

"According to the maid named Meizi, she acted under instructions this time as well. And the person who directed her is none other than Qiuhe, the maid the Princess brought along from her own household. Driven by circumstances beyond her control, she was forced to steal the phoenix-tail hairpin. Because this affair implicates the Princess, I could not handle it arbitrarily. That is why I am troubled and came to consult with the Princess, seeking a proper way to resolve the matter satisfactorily."

Yan Ruxing stated her case logically and with sound evidence, even having the culprit's name clearly identified.

Yan Ziyu was well aware that Yan Ruxing was a meticulous woman; had she not possessed absolute certainty, she would never have come here to utter such words. Since she had come, it proved that this matter had already been established as a fact.

Even if it were not a fact, her hands would make it one!

"Nonsense, I did no such thing..." Upon hearing Yan Ruxing accuse her of instructing Meizi to commit theft, Qiuhe panicked and blurted out.

"So you are Qiuhe, the one who directed Meizi to steal the phoenix-tail hairpin bestowed by the Empress?" Yan Ruxing gazed at Qiuhe; though framed as a question, her tone was heavy with absolute certainty.

"I didn't..." Qiuhe argued anxiously, only to be cut off by Yan Ruxing.

"This maid has been serving by the Princess's side for quite some time now, hasn't she? For a mere servant to be so audacious shows that the Princess's methods of managing her subordinates are mediocre at best. If the Empress were to learn that it was someone from the Princess's household who masterminded the theft of the phoenix-tail hairpin, I wonder if Her Majesty might harbor second thoughts and grow suspicious of the Princess?" Cutting off Qiuhe's defense, Yan Ruxing stared at Yan Ziyu with a hint of coldness in her eyes, her voice dropping a fraction lower.

Seeing that Yan Ruxing actually resorted to invoking the Empress to pressure her, Yan Ziyu instead felt a sense of relief wash over her!

Did she not know the saying that lice do not bite when there are too many, and one does not feel the weight of overwhelming debts?

Right now, both the Emperor and Long Xiaoyan regarded her as a thorn in their side and a prick in their flesh, devising every possible means to deal with her. Where would she still find any fear of the Empress? One more grievance mattered little, and one less meant nothing; she had grown indifferent.

Naturally, Yan Ruxing could not fathom Yan Ziyu's devil-may-care mindset. Seeing her remain silent, she mistook it for being frightened by her words. A flash of smug triumph crossed her eyes as she spoke once more, "I am not someone devoid of sentiment for the past. As long as the Princess assists me with a single favor, I will take it upon myself to suppress this matter, release the maid named Meizi, and never speak of this again from this day forward. How about that?"

Has it finally come to the point?

Yan Ziyu lowered her gaze, a sharp flash darting quickly across her eyes. When she opened them again, her expression remained calm and unruffled. "What favor?"

"It is very simple. On the day I require your assistance, I ask that the Princess not refuse and instead lend me your utmost strength. We are sisters by birth; mutual aid is only proper. Don't you agree, Princess?" Her words essentially demanded that Yan Ziyu grant her a blank-check promise, confident that Yan Ziyu would comply.

Yan Ziyu frowned, raising her eyes to look at her. "State the matter clearly beforehand. Otherwise, if you lose your mind one day and tell me to run upon a sword and commit suicide, am I to obey that as well? That would be too absurd. You had better speak of something practical; let it not be too outrageous. You and I both understand the concept of a fair exchange—do not push things too far."

"Since that is the case, I shall dispense with beating around the bush. I intend to enter the palace as an imperial consort, and I want you to bridge the gap and pave the way for me. The supreme position of Empress, mother to the realm, belongs to none other than me!" Pride radiated from Yan Ruxing's eyes; as she uttered these words, her entire bearing was suffused with an extraordinary demeanor.

"If you wish to become Empress, go find the Emperor. What good is coming to me? Or do you imagine my abilities have reached such heights that I can manipulate even the Emperor?" Yan Ziyu felt no interest in Yan Ruxing's ambitions, harboring instead a deep sense of contempt. In her eyes, Yan Ruxing's actions were no different from those of a lunatic!

The corners of Yan Ruxing's lips curled into a smile. She stepped forward a few paces, leaned in close to Yan Ziyu's ear, and whispered a few words in a low voice.

"If you wish to seduce a man, rely on your own capabilities. Do not bring your dirty, underhanded schemes to me. I am not the madam of a brothel; finding patrons for young women is not my role, nor do I have any interest in it." Upon hearing her plan, Yan Ziyu felt an even deeper disdain, her cold voice ringing out.

"Yan Ziyu, do not push me too far! Drive me to extremes, and it will do no one any good!" Yan Ruxing's expression darkened, her eyes brimming with suppressed fury and displeasure.

Even a dog driven to a corner will vault over a wall. Yan Ziyu reflected that she truly could not push her too tightly; otherwise, it really might become somewhat troublesome.

Thus, she softened her tone slightly and said, "I can agree to bring you along, but everything else will depend entirely upon yourself. If you succeed, it is your own capability; if you fail, it is your own incompetence, and you can blame no one else. How is that? If you agree, then so be it; if you do not, I am not afraid. In any case, you dare not harm me. Even if you were willing, General Yan, His Majesty, and Prince Xiao would not permit it." Yan Ziyu laid down her bottom line. As for whether to accept it or not, that was up to Yan Ruxing.

Hearing this, Yan Ruxing fell silent for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.

"Remember your words. If you break your promise, I will surely make your life a living hell, where death is a luxury you cannot attain!" Finally, Yan Ruxing stared hard at Yan Ziyu, issuing an ice-cold threat.