Chapter 64: Kill the Regent’s Consort

Just as Princess Pingyao left, another group of people approached, with the chief among them surprisingly being the Emperor’s attendant, Eunuch Zhou.

It seemed like everyone was waiting for her today.

“Your Highness, Princess Pingyao.” Eunuch Zhou respectfully bowed to her, his attitude extremely humble. “The Emperor requests your presence at Chonghua Palace for an important discussion with you, Your Highness.”

Princess Pingyao looked at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “Eunuch Zhou, it’s not often you’re personally sent to intercept me. Does the Emperor have urgent business with me today?”

Eunuch Zhou smiled apologetically, “I am just delivering a message. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Your Highness.”

“I won’t make things difficult for you, but if anyone is to face difficulty, it will be the one who commanded you.” Princess Pingyao’s tone turned cold. “Let’s go.”

Eunuch Zhou’s expression changed slightly, keeping his head down and leading Princess Pingyao to Chonghua Palace.

Ji Jin, as usual, sat by the window reading a book. His youthful and noble appearance exuded warmth and harmlessness, evoking a sense of affinity.

However, appearances can be deceiving.

She casually found a spot closer to him and sat down, “What does the Emperor wish to discuss with me?”

Ji Jin’s gaze darkened. Although he was accustomed to the disrespect of this royal sister, perhaps due to recent encounters with an equally insolent Regent’s consort, he felt as if his imperial dignity had been completely disregarded.

No one took him seriously.

Was there any difference between him, an Emperor, and a puppet?

Ji Jin gently closed his eyes, suppressing his inner agitation, setting aside the book in his hand with grace and composure, “Did my imperial sister just come from the Ministry of War?”

Princess Pingyao remarked, “The Emperor is well-informed.”

“Why did you go to the Ministry of War?” Ji Jin inquired.

“Not just the Ministry of War, perhaps I’ll visit the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow, and the Ministry of Rites the day after.” Princess Pingyao replied casually. “There’s no specific goal, just to observe whether these officials are diligent, engaging in factionalism, engaging in favoritism, or involved in corruption and bribery.”

She continued, subtly lifting the corners of her mouth, “Your Majesty, rest assured, as a woman, I have no interest in your throne.”

Ji Jin fell silent for a while before speaking, “I invited my imperial sister here to discuss some matters.”

“What matters?”

“How do you feel about the Regent’s consort?” Ji Jin inquired.

Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at him thoughtfully, “Your Majesty, please don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to your own imperial Aunt.”

Ji Jin chuckled lightly, “That’s not the case.”

“As for the Regent’s consort, it’s none of my concern.” Princess Pingyao stated. “I don’t care.”

“We are siblings by blood.”

“Trying to appeal to my emotions?” Princess Pingyao’s voice carried a hint of indifference. “Your Majesty seems to have forgotten how my mother died. Your real sister is Princess Jiahe, not me. No need to get close to me.”

“If I told you that General Fengyang is still alive, how would you react?” Ji Jin’s words hung in the air, bringing a sudden stillness.

Princess Pingyao’s pupils constricted as she stared at Ji Jin intently, “What did you say?”

“General Fengyang is still alive.” Ji Jin stated calmly, “but only I know his whereabouts.”

Princess Pingyao felt a surge of emotions inside but managed to restrain any visible reaction, saying coldly, “Your Majesty must be joking.”

“I never joke.” Ji Jin’s tone remained even. “As long as my imperial sister agrees to one thing, I can arrange for you to see General Fengyang.”

After a moment of silence, Princess Pingyao inquired, “What is it?”

Ji Jin turned to look out the window, speaking in a calm tone as if discussing an insignificant matter, “Kill the Regent’s consort.”

Princess Pingyao’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Is this request from Your Majesty a bit unreasonable?”

“How so?” Ji Jin asked.

“Give me a reason to kill her.”

Ji Jin replied casually, “Do I need a reason to want someone dead?”

“You want the person you want to die is the Regent’s wife.” Princess Pingyao shattered his illusion. “Although you are the Emperor, you haven’t yet assumed full power. You cannot expect unquestioning obedience. Moreover, even if you were to reign in the future, have you considered the consequences of killing the Regent’s consort?”

Ji Jin fell silent for a moment, “What consequences do you think there will be, imperial sister?”

“Do you think the Regent will simply accept it?”

“Just a woman, isn’t she?” Ji Jin dismissed, “Would he really commit killing an Emperor for a woman?”

“Who knows?” Princess Pingyao remarked lightly, “Regardless, I won’t take that risk for you.”

Ji Jin frowned, “You doesn’t want to meet General Fengyang?”

“While it’s true that I used to have feelings for him, after that phase passed, I found delight in having multiple suitors.” Princess Pingyao smiled faintly. “But I can’t help wondering how exactly you managed to keep him alive. Or perhaps, have you all been conspiring against me all these years?”

Ji Jin’s expression darkened, “Imperial sister.”

“If he had reappeared two years earlier, perhaps I would have truly agreed to the conditions you set.” Princess Pingyao stood up, leisurely adjusting her attire. “Now that I’ve started a new life, with beautiful and obedient gentleman in the Princess’s residence, and the Qin family’s son I recently accepted is quite decent, I plan to abandon Qin Yanshu and marry this Qin Yumo, making him my husband.”

Ji Jin’s grip on the scroll tightened slightly, a shade of seriousness passing over his eyes, “Since you are so indifferent, may I not have to concern myself further about General Fengyang’s life?”

“Your Majesty can handle it as he sees fit.” Princess Pingyao sighed. “But I do wish to meet him. There are many unanswered questions in my heart. If you are willing to facilitate it, all the better. If not, I won’t force it.”

Ji Jin raised his eyes slightly, his gaze resting on Princess Pingyao’s serene face, contemplating the credibility of her words.

Could one truly let go of a love once so deeply felt?

Thinking of the poison in Ji Yucang’s body, the purpose behind Shen Ning’s purchases of those herbs, Ji Jin couldn’t shake off a sense of unease.

Even if he didn’t believe she could truly create an antidote, precautions were still necessary.

And the most reassuring way was to make her disappear.

But there’s no need to rush.

Ji Jin took a deep breath, “Three days from now, Imperial sister, when you enter the palace again, I will arrange for you to meet General Fengyang. At that time, you can choose to accept my conditions or remain indifferent to his fate.”

Princess Pingyao said nothing, simply stood up and left, showing no hesitation or concern, seemingly unaffected by Ji Jin’s proposal.

However, upon returning to the Princess’s residence, she secluded herself in her chambers, not allowing even Qin Yumo, who had been favored in recent days, to come near.

The young men, dressed in fluttering robes, felt a sense of unease, collectively watching Qin Yumo, who was kept outside, furrowing their brows and asking, “What’s wrong with Her Highness?”

“No one knows what happened.”

“We thought Young Master Qin had risen high like a phoenix, but now it seems there’s little drama left.”

“Could it be that the Princess still prefers legitimate sons over adopted ones and wants to win back Young Master Qin?”

“With Qin Yanshu’s age, wouldn’t the Princess find him too old?”

The Princess had favored young and beautiful men over the years, aged around sixteen to eighteen. Qin Yanshu had long passed his prime. How could the Princess possibly hold him in high regard?

Qin Yumo stood silently in the corridor, furrowing his brow. A strange feeling crept over him, ignoring the mocking remarks of those around him.

He had heard countless sarcastic comments since childhood, and he had long grown numb to them. However, the Princess’s unusual reaction at that moment left him inexplicably uneasy.