Chapter 78: Unpredictable Intentions

Xia Tong glanced at the other woman with a strange look, instinctively taking a step back. She smiled and said, “The princess seems particularly emotional tonight.”

For her to suddenly speak so much—either she’s disillusioned with the world or has some ulterior motive.

Princess Changyang gave a slight smile and slowly raised her hand. Noticing the wariness in Xia Tong’s eyes, she gently adjusted the pearl hairpin in her dark hair. Her voice was calm as she said, “I just wanted to speak my mind for once. It’s rare that the princess doesn’t think I’m being long-winded.”

Xia Tong frowned slightly and remained silent for a moment before saying indifferently, “It’s late, Princess. You should return to the palace soon. I will take my leave.”

After speaking, she turned and walked towards her carriage, leaving Princess Changyang alone, stepping through the snow. Her silhouette appeared particularly desolate.

Once inside the carriage, Xia Tong couldn’t help but ask Xifeng outside, “Weren’t you worried she might harm me?”

Although she didn’t think the princess would be foolish enough to act against her under Xifeng’s watchful eyes, it was indeed odd that she had blocked her way.

“Rest assured, Princess. I have it under control.”

Xifeng’s voice was steady, full of confidence. Even if the other party were a skilled martial artist, he was confident he could take them down before they had a chance to strike. After all, he had served beside the regent for many years.

Thinking of Xifeng’s almost supernatural ability to strike with a single, deadly blow, Xia Tong couldn’t help but recall certain memories and sighed softly. “Why do you think she told me all that?”

She had thought the princess was planning to risk it all and make a move against her. But on reflection, it didn’t quite seem like the princess’s style. Still, it was strange for her to say so much suddenly.

The wheels of the carriage left a curved trail in the snow. Perhaps mindful of the princess’s pregnancy, Xifeng did not increase the speed. He replied in a calm voice, “Princess Changyang is a smart woman.”

Hearing this, Xia Tong was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant. She suddenly understood that the princess’s words weren’t really meant for her, but for Gu Qin. The princess must have known Xifeng would overhear their conversation and was using it to declare her intentions to him.

“Still, it would be wise for Princess to remain cautious.” Xifeng, knowing many of the royal family’s secrets, understood well what kind of person Princess Changyang was. She was skilled at manipulating others and often used others to do her dirty work. With so many princesses in the royal family, the fact that the seventh princess had a title of her own was evidence enough that she was no ordinary woman.

Inside the carriage, Xia Tong remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. When they arrived back at the residence, Fang Yu and the others nervously prepared her some calming herbs, as if convinced that she had been startled today.

After eating a little, Xia Tong indeed felt a bit tired. In the middle of the night, she sensed that Gu Qin had returned, but when she woke up the next morning, there was no one beside her.

As she was freshening up, before starting breakfast, she heard Qing’er discussing the news from outside.

“Master, you wouldn’t believe it! Word is that the Fifth Prince has escaped, but the other princes weren’t so lucky. The Dali Temple is currently sorting out their crimes and will deal with them soon.”

At this, Qing’er lowered her voice mysteriously. “And Princess Changyang was actually colluding with the Fifth Prince! They stole a map of the capital. However, the Emperor, out of consideration for their sibling bond, only placed her under house arrest in the Changle Palace, where she is forbidden to leave for life.”

Hearing this, Xia Tong, who had been nibbling on a pastry, was taken aback. She felt as though she had just heard something unimaginable. Had Princess Changyang lost her mind? Why would she, of all people, ally with Xiao Ming? She didn’t seem like the irrational type. No wonder she had said those strange things last night—she must have known her plans were about to unravel and was trying to express her intentions to Gu Qin through Xifeng.

“Did the prince return?” she asked, picking up another piece of osmanthus cake.

“The prince returned to the residence last night but left early this morning to deal with official matters. Things outside are quite chaotic. I heard the blood at the city gates hasn’t even been washed away yet,” Qing’er said, still a bit shaken.

No wonder the blankets felt warm last night—Gu Qin had really come back.

As Fang Yu was serving her congee, she suddenly picked up a red bean cake and sniffed it. Her expression turned serious.

“What is it?” Xia Tong immediately hesitated to eat her osmanthus cake.

After a moment of silence and careful confirmation, Fang Yu solemnly said, “Master, there’s no major problem with the red bean cake itself, but it contains a type of sugar from the Eastern Yue Kingdom. This sugar is derived from a plant that grows on cold peaks and isn’t suitable for pregnant women. However, few people in the capital know this.”

Fang Yu furrowed her brows and added, “The household does have some of this sugar, but ever since you became pregnant, I’ve forbidden the kitchen from using it. I don’t know why it was used today.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Tong slowly put down her chopsticks. There was no one else in the residence but her. The women from the Western Region had all been sent away by Gu Qin, so who could possibly want to harm her child?

She only had one rival in love, but could the other party really extend her influence this far? Could she even control people within the residence?

Losing her appetite, Xia Tong drank the now-cool calming herbs and, holding a candied fruit in her mouth, made her way to the study. She arrived just as several military officers were leaving. Seeing her, they politely greeted her, quite the change from their previous indifference.

She quietly pushed open the door. The study was warm as usual, and before the desk knelt a man in black whom she didn’t recognize. Judging by his attire, he was one of the hidden guards of the residence, though Xia Tong had rarely seen them.

“Deal with it yourself,” came Gu Qin’s icy voice, chilling her to the bone. The man in black stood without a word and left the room. Xia Tong was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to ask, “What happened?”

Gu Qin, noticing the puffed cheeks that hinted she had something in her mouth, set the documents aside and said coldly, “He let someone infiltrate the residence without realizing it. Such incompetence has no place here.”

Xia Tong was speechless.

She had always known that Gu Qin was strict, especially with his subordinates. But she also understood that his actions were meant to make her reflect on her mistakes. If this happened again, even more people might die because of her.

“I’m sorry, it was my fault,” she said, tugging at his sleeve and gently shaking it. “But I couldn’t just stand by and watch my mother get hurt. Can’t you consider it as accumulating blessings for our child and give them another chance?”

Gu Qin remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on her, his expression as frosty as ever. “You always think of others first. Have you ever considered me?”

Their eyes met, and Xia Tong slowly lowered her gaze. The hidden guard, understanding the situation, quietly left the room, knowing that the prince had spared them this time.

The study fell into a heavy silence. She tightened her grip on his sleeve, her voice soft. “From now on, I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Xia Tong wanted to be good to Gu Qin but often felt unsure how. He never needed her to worry about him or do anything for him. Suddenly, she began to doubt herself. What had she ever done for him?

Sensing her low spirits, Gu Qin frowned slightly and pulled her into his lap, gently stroking her silky hair. His eyes burned with intensity. “I don’t need you to do anything,” he said, “but before you act, could you think about someone besides your parents?”

Xia Tong’s eyes welled up, and she remained silent. She had never questioned her way of living, but at this moment, she realized just how wrong she had been.

Gu Qin wiped away her tears with his thumb, his gaze softening. “What are you eating?” he asked.

Still immersed in her guilt, Xia Tong didn’t respond, not until her chin was suddenly lifted, and a warm sensation pressed against her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise, but after a brief moment, she relaxed, gently wrapping her arms around his neck and, for the first time, actively responding.

Her sudden willingness only deepened the heat in Gu Qin’s eyes. His large hand slipped inside her robe, raising the temperature of the room even further.

It had been a long time since they had been intimate, and Xia Tong struggled to keep up with his intensity. In mere moments, her breath was entirely stolen by him, and she felt his hand slipping further inside her robe.

But remembering her pregnancy, Gu Qin eventually reined in his desire, releasing her reluctantly. He gazed at her flushed face and asked in a low, husky voice, “What kind of candied fruit is this? It’s so sweet.”