Chapter 121

Yan Ling didn’t speak, nor did he look at Feng Yaoguang. He stared intently at Yan Donghuang as if trying to find some clue on her face.

Yan Donghuang raised an eyebrow. “Poisoned?”

Yan Ling nodded. “Yes.”

Yan Donghuang’s lips curled up. “Worse than death?”

Yan Ling nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Yan Donghuang smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I have experienced that feeling too.”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Feng Yaoguang froze, turning to her in disbelief. “Your Highness?”

Yan Donghuang glanced at him. “Leave us.”

Feng Yaoguang silently averted his gaze, put down the chess pieces, and left, his mind racing with questions about whether what she said was true.

Poisoned? Worse than death?

He frowned, trying to recall when she might have been poisoned and experienced such agony. It didn’t seem to have happened during the years on the battlefield. Could it have been before that?

His heart tightened with a pang of sorrow, knowing that her childhood had been difficult. If someone had wanted to harm her, an unloved child wouldn’t have been able to escape…

“Sit down,” Yan Donghuang said calmly.

Yan Ling had the same questions as Feng Yaoguang, but his thoughts were different. He was thinking that his attempts to poison Yan Donghuang had never succeeded. How could she have experienced such pain?

Could she have been poisoned elsewhere?

Yan Ling’s heart was uneasy as he silently walked over and sat down.

“An eye for an eye,” Yan Donghuang said with a faint smile, looking at Yan Ling. “Have you heard this saying, Seventh Brother?”

Yan Ling’s face changed as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

“What… what are you saying?” He tried to hide his unease, forcing a smile. “Donghuang, I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

“If you don’t understand, forget it.” Yan Donghuang picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked out the window. “The weather is still cold these days. If you’re weak, Seventh Brother, you should stay in the prince’s residence to avoid the cold. Don’t go out too much, or you might catch a cold.”

Yan Ling quietly clenched his hand, lowering his gaze. “Donghuang, I’m worried about you. That girl who just entered the residence might have ill intentions. Keeping her by your side, she…”

“You are the one with ill intentions!” A young girl’s voice came from outside the curtain, displeased. “I am loyal to the Crown Princess and would never harbor harmful intentions like those hidden snakes. Also, speaking ill of others behind their backs is not the behavior of a gentleman, but of a villain.”

Yan Ling’s face turned pale and green. He looked towards the curtain, wanting to get angry, but remembering his own poisoning, he suppressed his anger.

“Ziying,” Yan Donghuang said calmly, “didn’t I ask you to find Xie Yunjian? Why are you still here?”

Yuan Ziying replied, “Xie Yunjian is on duty and has no time for me.”

Before Yan Donghuang could speak again, Yan Ling quickly said, “It’s cold outside. Miss Ziying, come inside and sit.”

“This isn’t your home. The Crown Princess hasn’t spoken, so do your words count?” Yuan Ziying said irritably. “I’m not afraid of the cold. Staying outside is fine.”

Yan Ling pressed his lips together, his expression unpleasant. Although he usually appeared gentle and harmless, he was still a prince. No woman had dared to speak to him like this for so many years.

Yan Donghuang continued to drink her tea, her expression deep and unreadable.

“Donghuang…”

“If you are truly poisoned, Seventh Brother, you can ask for an imperial physician,” Yan Donghuang said calmly. “If the physician can’t cure the poison, there’s no point in asking me.”

Yan Ling lowered his gaze, his tone gentle but questioning. “Can you say this has nothing to do with you?”

“What do you mean, Seventh Brother?” Yan Donghuang raised an eyebrow, her eyes cold. “Are you accusing me of poisoning you?”

Yan Ling didn’t speak, but his expression confirmed it.

“If you suspect me, then I have a question for you,” Yan Donghuang said with a hint of mockery. “Do you know who gave Marquis Pingyang the Seven-Step Intestinal Poison?”

Yan Ling’s heart sank. Looking into Yan Donghuang’s calm and cold eyes, he realized she had known the truth all along. Her cold attitude towards him these days wasn’t a mistake or a lack of familial affection. She had genuinely become wary of him, even harboring murderous intent.

So, the poisoning last night was her premeditated revenge?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Yan Ling said, lowering his eyes to hide his panic and guilt. “Donghuang, didn’t you say Marquis Pingyang had confessed…”

“Who he confessed about doesn’t matter. I’m asking for your opinion now,” Yan Donghuang said coldly. “If you don’t know, then leave.”

Yan Ling was silent. A long silence. He held the teacup, his fingers tightening, his face growing paler. He wanted to deny everything and leave. But remembering the torturous pain from the poison last night, he couldn’t move.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive. Despite the warm fire, it felt as if a cold chill was seeping in, making him feel as if he were submerged in icy water, his limbs stiff with cold.

At that moment, Yan Ling’s mind suddenly cleared. He truly didn’t have the ability to compete for the throne. Yan Donghuang not only had strong military power and ruthless methods, but she was also better at using poison. He had failed twice to harm her, but she had made him feel worse than death with just one attempt.

What did he have to compete with her?

Miao Qiyuan was right; he had been too impatient. He should have waited and bided his time until the other princes were eliminated and Yan Donghuang fully trusted him. That would have been the best time to act. But now it was too late.

Yan Ling took a deep breath and looked at Yan Donghuang. “What do you want to ask me?”

“It depends on what you want to answer,” Yan Donghuang said coldly. “Aren’t you tired of pretending for so many years?”

Yan Ling sneered. “For the position above all others, what’s there to be tired of?”

“Then why didn’t you continue pretending?” Yan Donghuang leaned lazily on the bed, her posture relaxed. “You instructed Chen Shaoheng to harm me. Did you think I would only suspect Yan Ming and not find out the real mastermind?”

Yan Ling didn’t speak, his expression stiff and pale.

“The Seven-Step Intestinal Poison was meant to kill me,” Yan Donghuang said, her eyes cold. “Yan Ling, you were too impatient. Even if I died from the poison, did you think the throne would be yours?”

Yan Ling pressed his lips tightly.

“Yan Ming was demoted to a prince and has no strength to compete for the throne. Even if my death implicated him, you wouldn’t be the final winner.”

“Yan Zhang is the son of the noble consort and has the support of King Wuyang in his fief. What do you have to compete with him? That sinister person you brought from who knows where?”

Yan Ling was silent for a moment. “I didn’t want you to die…”

“That doesn’t matter,” Yan Donghuang said coldly. “Yan Ling, you have cut off your own path to survival.”

Chapter 122

Yan Ling’s face turned pale, almost losing control as he looked at her. “It was you who ruined my life!”

“Prince An is quite skilled at shifting blame,” Yan Donghuang said calmly, not taking his anger seriously. “I used to think I was good at judging people, but I later realized how foolish I was.”

When someone truly disguises themselves, they can even believe their own act. How could others see through it?

However, Yan Donghuang still didn’t understand. In the previous life, Yan Ling could endure until the end. Why was he so impatient this time? Was it because Yan Ming ascended the throne in the previous life, and Yan Ling thought Yan Ming was not a threat, believing everything was under his control?

Yan Ling’s face twitched, unable to maintain his usual gentle and harmless expression. His tone unconsciously took on a negotiating edge. “What will it take for you to give me the antidote?”

Yan Donghuang was surprised as if she had misheard. “Antidote?”

Yan Ling gritted his teeth. “Yes, the antidote.”

“There is no antidote,” Yan Donghuang sneered. “Did you prepare an antidote when you poisoned me with the Intestinal Poison?”

Yan Ling closed his eyes. “You weren’t poisoned, were you?”

“I wasn’t poisoned because the heavens protected me, because I am fortunate,” Yan Donghuang’s voice turned cold, her gaze icy. “You were poisoned because you are incompetent and unlucky! Yan Ling, you deserve to suffer the pain of the poison because you are selfish and scheming. This is your own doing, and you deserve it!”

Yan Ling’s face turned ashen, gripping the edge of the tea table tightly, his momentum weakening. “Donghuang, we are siblings. We’ve had a good relationship for many years… If it weren’t for your ambition for the throne, we could have continued to get along well…”

“There is no antidote, but if you behave, I can reduce the frequency of the poison attacks,” Yan Donghuang cut him off, uninterested in his hypocritical words. “The rumors about female officials were spread by you, weren’t they?”

Yan Ling’s expression stiffened, his face pale, and he remained silent, staring at her.

“I haven’t addressed it, but that doesn’t mean I know nothing,” Yan Donghuang said indifferently. “Since you can’t stand women in official positions, I will assign this task to you. If you handle it well, you can enjoy a few days of comfort; if not, I will make you experience the pain of the poison every day.”

With that, she coldly ordered, “Someone, see the guest out.”

Chang Lan and Chang Yue stepped forward, respectfully but firmly looking at him. “Prince An, please.”

Yan Ling didn’t move, silently staring at Yan Donghuang, his body as stiff as a wooden statue. Even wrapped in a thick cloak, he still felt cold all over.

Yan Donghuang intended to control him for life, making him her puppet?

“You have no other choice,” Yan Donghuang’s voice was cold and hard. “Unless you dare to stand up to power, you must heed my threats.”

Yan Ling stood still for a long time before finally getting up and leaving.

Outside the warm pavilion, Feng Yaoguang stood quietly in a white robe. His handsome face and tall figure exuded an intimidating aura as he looked at Yan Ling without any emotion.

Yan Ling left without a word, lowering his gaze.

Feng Yaoguang lifted the curtain and entered the warm pavilion, looking at Yan Donghuang reclining on the couch. He couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, were you poisoned?”

Yan Donghuang didn’t respond, quietly lowering her gaze, lost in thought. Seeing this, Feng Yaoguang suppressed his doubts.

…

On the sixth day of the month, early court sessions resumed, and Yan Donghuang discussed matters in the court, publicly mentioning the selection of companions. Of the seven princes, besides the deposed crown prince, two were recovering at home, and the other four vehemently opposed the idea upon hearing it. Most of the court officials also found it unacceptable. However, this did not affect Yan Donghuang’s decision.

Dressed in the crown princess’s robe, Yan Donghuang sat at the head of the hall, her gaze sweeping over the ministers, her voice calm yet commanding. “The selection of companions is imperative, and no one can oppose it.”

The court fell silent.

“I plan to conclude this matter by the end of February, with registration closing at the end of January,” Yan Donghuang said calmly. “Due to time and distance, noble girls in the capital will have priority. If their families support them, the selected girls can enter the court as officials, bringing honor to their families. Those who excel and achieve great merit can help their fathers and brothers gain titles.”

This statement sparked another round of discussion among the officials.

Could their daughters be of great use in helping their fathers and brothers gain titles?

Yan Donghuang observed their reactions and spoke calmly. “I believe not all men are good at studying, and not all women are illiterate.”

“When I ascend the throne, I will need female officials to assist me so this matter will proceed without obstruction. Any opposition is futile.”

“The selection of female officials is imperative, and anyone who dares to obstruct it will be considered defiant!”

The court fell silent, the officials’ expressions visibly softening, either intimidated by her authority or tempted by the benefits of female officials.

The Crown Princess was right. Not all men excelled in their studies. In fact, well-educated, cultured, and virtuous men were rare, even in official families. On the other hand, frivolous sons were everywhere.

If their daughters could bring benefits to their families, why oppose it?

After all, when the Crown Princess ascended the throne, their daughters couldn’t enter the palace as concubines, losing a chance to serve the emperor. It was the first female emperor of the Yong Dynasty, and men were accustomed to male superiority, so they might not want to serve a female emperor. So, female officials were the only acceptable way to bring honor to their families.

Yan Donghuang’s gaze swept around, finally landing on Yan Ling. “This matter will be handled by Prince An, Grand Tutor Qi’s granddaughter Qi Fangfei, and the Ministry of Rites. If there are any mistakes, I will hold you accountable.”

Yan Ling’s expression changed, his hand clenched at his side.

The hall was silent.

The officials’ gazes turned to Yan Ling, their eyes meaningful. Was Prince An going to pledge loyalty to the Crown Princess?

Under the watchful eyes of the court, Yan Ling, despite his deep resentment towards Yan Donghuang, had no choice but to step forward and accept the order. “I obey.”

Yan Donghuang calmly shifted her gaze. “We will discuss matters in the Hall of Diligence later. Do not be late. The court dismissed!”

The officials immediately knelt and bowed. “We respectfully send off the Crown Princess. Long live the Crown Princess!”

Yan Donghuang stood up and left the hall gracefully.