Chapter 58: Framing?

"In that case, I shall simply wait for the day when I can roam the world hand in hand with Prince Xi. By then, Your Highness will likely be too reluctant to part with the fair wives and beautiful concubines waiting at home." Young Master Yue sipped his tea, smiling as he teased the prince.

Prince Xi shook his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. "Please, Young Master Yue, do spare me. I have been driven nearly mad by the court ministers lately. Ever since those bandits who ambushed the tribute were pacified some time ago, His Majesty casually dropped a remark in court urging me to take a wife soon. Almost every single day since then, people have been knocking on my door. I simply could not bear it any longer, which is why I volunteered to come to Dayun to catch my breath. Never did I expect to cross paths with Young Master Yue—what an unexpected and delightful surprise! It is truly our affinity!"

From the formal title of Prince to the casual form of address, and from Young Master Yue to a familiar you, Prince Xi had subtly shortened the distance between them through his words, and his mood noticeably relaxed as he spoke.

"Such a wonderful blessing is something others could only dream of. Your Highness might as well bring a few more back to your manor. I hear that General Li Minghan's eldest daughter is quite exceptional—of a suitable age, composed and modest, and a renowned talented woman to boot. She would surely be a match worthy of Your Highness." After a few playful jests, seeing Prince Xi shake his head helplessly, Young Master Yue looked at him and suddenly asked, "How is the Grand Emperor? Has his illness improved at all?"

Prince Xi was taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting such an abrupt transition in Young Master Yue's questioning, especially since the topic involved 'that person'. For a brief second, he froze, unsure of how to reply.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Yue. The Grand Emperor is in good health and is currently on a journey of travels. Should I meet him another day, I will certainly convey your regards." Regaining his composure, Prince Xi deliberately steered the conversation elsewhere. "I wonder what brings Young Master Yue to Dayun this time? If there is anything I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to speak."

Without a pressing reason, given the elusive mystery surrounding Young Master Yue, how else could he have managed to meet him in person?

Young Master Yue nodded. True to his reputation as the favorite in the presence of the Emperor of Chiyang, Prince Xi was remarkably sharp. He answered, "To be frank with you, my prolonged stay in Dayun does indeed have a specific reason."

Prince Xi held his breath, gazing at him with a solemn expression.

"Does Your Highness still remember the Princess Consort of Prince Xiao of Dayun? That woman whose reputation was utterly ruined, yet who caused a sensation at the imperial banquet and won universal acclaim entirely on her own merit—what are Your Highness's views on her?" Young Master Yue did not spell it out directly; instead, he steered the conversation toward Yan Ziyu, his eyes closely observing the expressions shifting across Prince Xi's face.

"I remember. Such a unique woman is difficult to forget." Prince Xi made no attempt to conceal his admiration for Yan Ziyu, nodding as he spoke.

Young Master Yue nodded in agreement. "My purpose in remaining in Dayun is precisely because of her. Some time ago, while observing the celestial phenomena at night, I noticed that Dayun's national destiny was gradually declining and the imperial star was dimming, while the nearby Ziwei star blazed with brilliant light. I knew immediately that a massive upheaval was destined to occur in Dayun, and the root of this great upheaval originates from none other than that Princess Consort Xiao."

Dayun was about to suffer a catastrophic upheaval, and its catalyst was nothing more than a disfavored princess consort!

How could that possibly be?

Prince Xi's initial reaction was sheer disbelief. Frowning in confusion, he asked, "It is not that I doubt Young Master Yue's words, but surely everything must have a basis. Although Yan Ziyu's behavior is somewhat eccentric, she surely lacks such capability! Dayun is a vast and mighty empire; how could it possibly suffer a monumental crisis because of a mere woman?"

Young Master Yue shook his head helplessly and let out a low, soft sigh. "I knew Your Highness would find it hard to believe. In that case, I must ask Your Highness to inspect these items before making your judgment." With that, Young Master Yue pushed a wooden box on the table toward Prince Xi, signaling him to open it and examine its contents.

Filled with doubt, Prince Xi opened the wooden box and discovered inside only an unremarkable hair ornament and a slightly yellowed book with a blank cover. Upon opening it, he realized it was actually a handwritten journal!

Yet the contents within it left Prince Xi deeply and utterly shaken—

...

An hour later, as dusk settled over the city, Prince Xi finally departed from the teahouse. When he left, his expression remained somewhat dazed, and he nearly collided with a carriage rumbling down the street. Fortunately, possessing martial arts skills, he managed to dodge the danger just in time!

Meanwhile, after being escorted to the Ministry of Clan Affairs and cast into the dungeon, Yan Ziyu was granted certain special privileges due to her status as a princess consort. Her cell was relatively clean, and even the jailer had provided her with a thin quilt.

"Many thanks, good sir. I shall remember this kindness and repay it another day."

Yan Ziyu discovered that the Ministry of Clan Affairs was nothing like the terrifying place whispered about outside. These jailers were actually treating her rather well; not only did they provide her with a quilt, but they also brought her steaming steamed buns and noodles, complete with slices of beef floating in the broth. Tsk tsk... the accommodations for imprisonment were not half bad!

"This humble one wouldn't dare accept such gratitude. If the Princess Consort has any needs, simply give the word, and this humble one will do everything in his power." The jailer was a seasoned man of around forty who had witnessed countless schemes of imperial relatives passing in and out of the prison. Naturally, he knew better than to casually offend anyone, especially since a masked gentleman had specifically instructed him beforehand to serve Princess Consort Xiao with utmost care. The mere thought of that gentleman's ruthless methods sent a chill straight down his spine.

Unaware of the hidden complexities beneath the surface, Yan Ziyu assumed the jailer was simply a kind-hearted soul, thanking him with a warm and pleasant smile.

Once the jailer departed, Yan Ziyu sat alone on the straw-strewn 'bed'. Earlier, fearing she might implicate A-Li and Qiuhe, she had sent them away. Were they alright now? Would Long Xiaoyan vent his anger upon them? Would Rui'er cry when he failed to find her at night? Would Imperial Concubine Yu concoct yet another malicious scheme?

It had been manageable while her mind was occupied, but the moment quiet descended, a flurry of chaotic thoughts began to surface in her head. The more she thought, the more worried she grew, and her brows furrowed deeper and deeper!

She had no idea how long she had been lost in thought. She had entered the dungeon at dusk, and now the moon was already climbing over the eaves; the exact hour remained a mystery to her.

A yawn escaped her lips—

So sleepy, her eyelids felt unbearably heavy!

A sudden breath of cool wind swept through the air. Yan Ziyu felt her eyelids grow heavier still, and finally succumbing to the overwhelming fatigue, her consciousness slipped away as her body tipped backward onto the straw behind her...

The very last moment before losing consciousness, she couldn't help wondering: how on earth was there a breeze inside a deep dungeon?

"Thump—" Her head struck the wall with a muffled thud!

Hiss—

The sharp pain brought hot tears to her eyes. She drew in a sharp breath, nearly crying out, but managed to suppress the sound by biting down hard on her lower lip.

She violently shook her head, trying desperately to clear her mind, but her awareness continued to blur!

Even a fool would realize by now that she had been drugged; how could Yan Ziyu fail to understand?

Reaching up, she pulled the hair ornament from her hair and gritted her teeth as she slashed a sharp line across her fair arm. The piercing pain and the scent of fresh blood served as a brutal stimulus, snapping her consciousness back to a sliver of clarity.

Immediately seizing the opportunity, she pried open the decorative peony piece on the hair ornament. It turned out that the peony-adorned hairpin in her hand was hollow, with a tiny cavity right at the stamen holding a minuscule pill. Without hesitation, she swallowed the pill. After resting a moment, she felt the dizziness recede and the heavy sleepiness lift, knowing the antidote had taken effect.

"Rip—"

She tore a strip of fabric from the hem of her skirt and, holding it between her teeth, hurriedly tied a simple bandage around her still-bleeding arm.

Barely a moment later, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor. Two figures in black garments rushed up to her cell, severed the lock with a single slash of a blade, and tossed a blood-stained saber right in front of her. Before she could even react, they turned and bolted away in a rush, deliberately shouting loudly just before vanishing around the corner, "Princess Consort, you run first, we will hold them off!"

At that shout, guards and jailers of the Ministry of Clan Affairs swarmed into the area. The two men in black, both possessing formidable martial arts skills, parried the guards with ease, slowly fighting their way out of the dungeon and driving the skirmish toward the outer courtyards.

"Does the Princess Consort care to offer an explanation?" Chen Min, the head official of the Ministry of Clan Affairs, stepped into Yan Ziyu's cell, pointing at the blood-stained saber on the floor as he glared at her with a grim and ugly expression.