Chapter 80

Yang Yanzong handed the small piece of paper he had cut out to A Zhao, instructing him to deliver it to Ji Yuanhao immediately. Then, he silently left Yangdu through a secret passage and rode swiftly to Changyi.

When Yang Yanzong’s letter arrived, Ji Yuanhao was furious at his residence. Mrs. Ren’s situation had finally come to Ji Yuanhao’s attention. It was Ji Zimu who told him. The son was worried about his mother. Mrs. Ren didn’t dare apply medicine or massage her knees in their room, fearing Ji Yuanhao would smell the medicine and notice something was wrong. So she moved to her eldest son’s room. The young boy saw his mother’s knees, and his eyes turned red. He wanted to tell his father several times, but Mrs. Ren forcibly stopped him. Finally, he couldn’t hold back anymore. “Why can’t we tell him?!”

His mother was suffering. Even if there was no immediate solution, shouldn’t his father know?!

He broke free from his mother’s grip, ran out of the room, and rushed to the outer study, startling Ji Yuanhao, who was discussing matters with his trusted aides. Ji Yuanhao frowned at his reckless son. “What’s the matter?”

Ji Zimu was a bit afraid of his father but mustered the courage to say, “Father! Mother is sick. She was kneeling in the palace!”

Ji Yuanhao quickly came. He had been busy for a long time and hadn’t rested in the back courtyard. Occasionally, he visited Mrs. Ren, who deliberately chose dim lighting and applied makeup, so he didn’t notice anything. Now, he hurried into the room, and Mrs. Ren, having washed off her makeup, looked pale and haggard. The room was filled with the pungent smell of medicine. She heard his footsteps and hastily lowered her rolled-up pants, but Ji Yuanhao had already seen. He quickly stepped forward and lifted Mrs. Ren’s pants, and his face turned ashen. He turned and shouted, “Call the physician!!”

The atmosphere in the room plummeted. Even though Mrs. Ren tried to downplay the situation, Ji Yuanhao was still filled with anger. He kicked the footstool in frustration. “Damn Kun family!!”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

The physician came and examined her, and the atmosphere in the room shifted from gloomy to relieved. Ji Chengtang gently pulled Ji Zimu out, closing the door behind them. Ji Yuanhao sat on the bed, holding Mrs. Ren’s hand, frowning as he spoke.

Mrs. Ren gently shook her head, gazing at him with watery eyes. His concerned expression and gentle actions made everything worthwhile for her. She rested her head on his shoulder. “What good would it do to tell you? It would only make you angrier.”

“Our family is part of the royal clan. I don’t have the excuse of an old injury flaring up.”

“You!” Ji Yuanhao lightly scolded her, but his words were filled with concern. “Next time, don’t do this.”

She smiled slightly. “Okay.” She was just the daughter of a minor official, humble in status. Serving by his side and becoming his wife was already a great fortune for her. Over the years, she had watched him struggle and rise through blood and tears. She couldn’t offer much help, but she hoped to lighten his burden in any way she could.

He had been trapped for too long. She only wished for him to soar high and achieve greatness.

Mrs. Ren closed her eyes, leaning against him, her hands gently resting on her abdomen. The only unexpected thing this time was this.

“Fortunately, the baby is stable. Otherwise, what would you do?” Ji Yuanhao patted her back, loosening his grip slightly, but added, “I insisted on calling the physician, and the diagnosis revealed an unexpected result.”

Mrs. Ren had finally endured through this. She was pregnant, already over three months along.

Mrs. Ren had given birth at a young age, which had taken a toll on her body. She hadn’t conceived for many years, and her menstrual cycle was irregular. Sometimes, it lasted for half a month; sometimes, it didn’t come for months. She had tried to regulate it, but the results weren’t ideal. With recent events weighing on her, she had felt unwell, so she didn’t realize she was pregnant for over three months. Fortunately, the baby was strong. Despite her suffering, the baby remained stable. The physician prescribed some medicine to stabilize the pregnancy, saying that with a little reinforcement, everything would be fine. The baby was very stable.

Ji Yuanhao said, “You should claim to be bedridden due to an unstable pregnancy. Don’t go to the palace anymore.”

“Okay.” Mrs. Ren also breathed a sigh of relief. This surprising child came at the right time, rescuing her from her predicament. She was both delighted and worried, nodding quickly.

Ji Yuanhao stood up, his expression cold. “Don’t worry, the Kun family won’t be triumphant for long.” He unfolded the letter he had just received from Yang Yanzong. The small piece of paper left him speechless for a moment, but his attention was quickly drawn to the content.

Mrs. Ren was surprised.

Ji Yuanhao whispered in her ear, “Prince Qian is in our hands now.”

Mrs. Ren was not ignorant of external affairs. After her initial shock, she was overjoyed and urged him, “Then you should go quickly! I’m fine. I’ll rest well.” She had already heard the footsteps of the guards pacing back and forth in the corridor.

Ji Yuanhao nodded, gently patting Mrs. Ren’s head. “Alright, rest well. I might not be back until the day after tomorrow.” He gave Mrs. Ren a few more instructions, then opened the door and told the maids to take good care of her. Ji Yuanhao hurriedly left.

After seeing his father and uncle leave, Ji Zimu returned to the room. He glanced at Mrs. Ren, who sighed softly and beckoned him over. “Eldest son, come here, sit by your mother.”

He snuggled up to her, and Mrs. Ren lovingly stroked his face. “Eldest son, I know you care about your mother.”

Ji Zimu whispered, “Yes.”

The mother and son whispered to each other, holding each other close. Finally, Ji Zimu said happily, “Father said you don’t have to go to the palace anymore. Is that true?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Ren smiled, placing her eldest son’s hand on her abdomen. “Eldest son and second son will have a little brother or sister. Are you happy?”

Ji Zimu touched her abdomen with her hand but pursed his lips. He wasn’t entirely happy. With this new sibling, his mother couldn’t take medicine and would have to endure the pain for a while longer. But seeing his mother’s expectant eyes, he still smiled. “Yes, I’m happy.”

---

Ji Yuanhao and Yang Yanzong arrived at the hot spring villa in Changyi one after the other. They rode swiftly through the mountain path, covering four hundred miles in just half a night and a day.

Yang Yanzong had just arrived and had yet to enter the villa when Ji Yuanhao, along with Ji Chengtang and a group of trusted guards, also arrived.

Wearing a black cloak, Su Ci had just come out to greet them at the villa gate. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ji Chengtang and thought, “Damn, why is he here again?”

But in fact, people can grow up quickly. Ji Chengtang, after all, was Ji Yuanhao’s biological brother. Even if he wasn’t as outstanding as his elder brother, he wasn’t overly mediocre either. As he slowly adapted, he gradually got on track.

With their parents gone, Ji Yuanhao only had this one younger brother left. It’s no exaggeration to say that Ji Yuanhao valued him more than his own son. Since his brother wasn’t a hopeless case, Ji Yuanhao naturally wanted to keep him close and teach him well. So, it wasn’t surprising that he recently brought Ji Chengtang along for important matters.

Ji Chengtang glanced over cautiously, quickly lowered his head, and held the horse’s reins, silently following behind his brother.

On the other hand, Su Ci didn’t dare look in that direction because Yang Yanzong was already striding toward her and looking at her. Their eyes met, and she couldn’t help but smile. It was early evening, and in the evening breeze, he touched her cheek, finding it not cold. He asked, “Did you have your medicinal meal?”

“I did. What about you? Have you had dinner?”

“We had some dry rations.”

“Dry rations?” Su Ci examined Yang Yanzong’s face and noticed some dark circles under his eyes. He looked obviously tired. He was usually full of energy, so he probably hadn’t slept much these past few days.

She whispered, “I had some beef soup made. How about I bring you a bowl later?”

Yang Yanzong couldn’t help but smile. He pinched her cheek, “Alright.”

The three of them walked side by side into the villa. Su Ci gave a few instructions and then pointed to a small courtyard with a black eave on the east side of the villa. “That person is there. Shall we go over?”

Yang Yanzong glanced at it but first said to her, “Don’t worry about it. Go to sleep first, and I’ll tell you in the morning.”

When they reached a well-lit area, he carefully examined Su Ci’s face. She looked much healthier, her complexion rosy, and her energy restored. He was very pleased. It seemed that the medicinal meals and hot spring treatments were working well. The old doctor who prescribed the medicinal meals had advised that during the treatment, she should go to bed early, get up early, and avoid overexertion and stress for the best results.

Yang Yanzong didn’t want her to stay up late. As soon as they entered the villa, he urged her to sleep, promising to tell her everything in the morning.

Su Ci agreed and went to sleep, feeling uneasy with Ji Chengtang around. She trotted off to the main courtyard.

Yang Yanzong watched her for a while as she and A Zheng’s group walked away. Ji Yuanhao coughed lightly and teased, “Brother Yang, you really know how to cherish your wife.”

Yang Yanzong glanced at him expressionlessly. “It’s slightly better than not knowing your wife has been kneeling in the palace for almost a month.”

Hitting where it hurts, Ji Yuanhao’s face darkened, and his previously good mood vanished.

Yang Yanzong quickly headed to the small courtyard, and Ji Yuanhao gritted his teeth and followed.

---

That night, Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao had a “friendly” negotiation with Prince Qian.

Prince Qian heard the distinct footsteps and the guards greeting them. His cold, star-like eyes lowered, and his thin lips tightened. Anyone being half-coerced into doing something wouldn’t be very happy, even if the other party had just saved their life.

However, Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao came to reason with Prince Qian tonight. They appealed to emotions, explained the logic, and analyzed the pros and cons. Cooperation, after all, would be more harmonious and smooth if both parties were willing. They weren’t there to coerce Prince Qian.

Yang Yanzong stood outside the door, observing the bedridden Prince Qian for a while before stepping in and cupping his hands slightly. “Prince Qian, it’s been a long time.”

Ji Yuanhao also smiled and said, “It’s been many days since we last met, Prince Qian. It must have been a terrifying experience underwater, but fortunately, you are safe and sound.”

The guards brought two chairs, and Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao sat down. Prince Qian pursed his lips and remained silent.

However, neither Yang Yanzong nor Ji Yuanhao minded. They had encountered many people who refused to cooperate without force; Prince Qian was not the first, nor would he be the last.

For cooperation, you need to offer something in return. Prince Qian had something they wanted, and they had something he wanted, so collaboration was inevitable. Whether he was celestial or not, they didn’t care. They didn’t believe in people who were completely detached from worldly affairs. If he disagreed, it was simply because the benefits weren’t enough to move him.

Yang Yanzong didn’t waste words. “Prince Qian, if you think you can overthrow the Kun family and save the emperor on your own, it’s probably impossible, right?”

Ji Yuanhao added, “How about we cooperate?”

Prince Qian kept his eyes down and remained silent. Ji Yuanhao smiled and said, “Does Prince Qian want to see the emperor become a puppet of the Kun family, held firmly in their grasp for life?”

“Poor child, from childhood to adulthood, he has never had control over his own fate!”

These words struck a chord with Prince Qian. His eyelashes fluttered, and he suddenly opened his eyes, no longer displaying his usual gentle melancholy. His gaze, as cold as stars, shot straight at the two men before him!

Yang Yanzong said calmly, “Prince Qian, there’s no need to see us as wolves or tigers. You must be aware of our situation. Right now, we share a common enemy.”

Prince Qian finally spoke, letting out a cold laugh. “What difference is there between the Kun family and you two?”

He didn’t believe that if these two succeeded in overthrowing the Kun family, they would willingly become loyal ministers to assist the young emperor. It would just be a change of those who control the emperor! When it came to ruthlessness, these two were probably no less than the Kun family.

Drinking poison to quench thirst is not a good strategy. Digging deeper, the Kun family and the young emperor still had blood ties, but what about these two? As a father, he couldn’t do much for the young emperor, but he couldn’t let his situation worsen in the future!

Prince Qian’s response was expected. Yang Yanzong smiled and decided it was time to reveal their trump card, which was their main plan all along.

“Let me be honest with you, Prince Qian. The Kun family is deeply rooted and holds the emperor in their grasp, occupying the moral high ground. Even if we join forces, winning in a short time would be difficult. You can’t deny this, can you?”

Prince Qian remained silent; this was a fact.

“Speed is crucial in warfare. If it drags on without a legitimate cause, the chances of losing are higher than winning.”

So, neither Yang Yanzong nor Ji Yuanhao planned to drag it out.

The longer it dragged on, the worse it would be for them.

“To achieve a surprise victory, we must bring in external forces. Let me mention someone who might interest you.”

Yang Yanzong paused and slowly uttered four words: “Old General Xu.”

“Grand Duke Jing, the son of Princess Jia Le, the eldest daughter of Emperor Xuan, and a senior general who has served four dynasties, stationed at Gao Bian—Old General Xu!”

Prince Qian’s heart trembled, and he looked up sharply at Yang Yanzong.

Yang Yanzong met his gaze steadily. “If Old General Xu gets involved, wouldn’t that put your mind at ease, Prince Qian?”

If General Xu were involved, there might be powerful ministers, but at the very least, he would never allow the young emperor to be suffocated and controlled like the Kun family does today, no matter who it was.

“I’ve said all I need to say, Prince Qian. You must carefully discern the truth. This opportunity comes only once; don’t miss it.”

Yang Yanzong abruptly stood up and left the small courtyard with Ji Yuanhao.

As they stepped out the door, a weak but raised voice came from behind them, “Wait!”

They raised their eyebrows and turned around. Prince Qian looked at them and said, “Is there any falsehood in what you just said?”

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao didn’t waste words and swore an oath.

In truth, the oath was just a formality. Prince Qian had his own judgment. After carefully considering Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao’s situation and the political landscape, he finally gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, I agree!”

Excellent! The cooperation agreement was reached.

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao exchanged a satisfied glance. This secret trip out of the capital had yielded great results.

It filled a crucial gap in their plan. They immediately returned to the room. Prince Qian, struggling to sit up, discussed it with them for nearly two hours.

During this time, Prince Qian revealed several important connections. First, he said, “The jade pendant that Madam Yang took—give it to this person, and she will deliver it to the emperor.”

Additionally, he wrote seven or eight letters, one to the young emperor and another to Little Madam Kun. He didn’t particularly like Little Madam Kun, but they had never quarreled in their many years of marriage, and he understood her thoughts and temperament well.

“Kun Tai, Little Madam Kun, Empress Dowager Kun, and Imperial Uncle Kun’s father have been dead for many years. The current clan leader is their uncle, Kun Tai, and Little Madam Kun’s father.”

The Kun family could be divided, especially since Little Madam Kun was not a particularly docile character.

After much thought, Prince Qian finally gritted his teeth and handed over most of his important leverage. He could only hope he hadn’t made the wrong bet!

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao carefully read the letters, sealed them personally, and put them away. They ordered Prince Qian to rest, “Your Highness, rest here for now. I will have my wife inform you if there are any developments.”

Exhausted, Prince Qian’s lips turned even paler. He was too weak to keep his eyes open, and the two men quickly left.

After a brief discussion, it was already past midnight. Yang Yanzong arranged for Ji Yuanhao and his men to rest in a courtyard, planning to leave for the capital the following day.

After many busy days and a day and a half of fast riding, even Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao, with their extraordinary stamina, felt exhausted. He rubbed his temples and decided not to disturb her sleep in the middle of the night. Yang Yanzong lay down fully clothed on a short couch in the study, took a nap for over an hour, and felt somewhat better when he woke up. He washed his face, and A Kang brought him a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup, made with the beef broth Su Ci had specially prepared the night before. He ate the bowl of noodles and drank the soup, feeling full and warm. With some time left, he hurried to the main courtyard.

The main residence was quiet, with a hint of dawn in the sky, but it was still dark in the mountains. He waved to the silent guards and entered the room. A lamp was still lit inside, left specifically for him.

Yang Yanzong couldn’t help but smile. He tiptoed to the bedside and lifted the curtain. Su Ci was sound asleep, hugging a cool blanket. He touched her face, and she wrinkled her nose, rubbing her face with her hand. He smiled again, gently closed the bed curtain, and decided not to wake her, even though he wanted to talk to her. He walked around the room. Although Su Ci had only been there for a few days, her presence was everywhere. His sharp eyes noticed an embroidery frame by the window as soon as he entered. It looked quite proper.

Yang Yanzong walked over, lifted the cloth covering the embroidery frame, and couldn’t help but laugh. What a mess!

It was clear that Su Ci had tried hard, but the embroidery was chaotic. The outline barely resembled a tiger descending the mountain. Unfortunately, only one circle of the outline was somewhat neat, and the rest quickly became a tangled mess, with a large knot of thread stuck on the tiger’s forehead, making it a pitiful sight. He carefully examined the ugly tiger, laughing as he looked.

“Yang Yanzong?” A voice came from behind. Feeling someone was there, Su Ci struggled to open her eyes and jumped out of bed. It was indeed Yang Yanzong. But she immediately became embarrassed and angry, rushing over barefoot and covering the embroidery frame with the cloth. “What are you laughing at?!”

Haven’t you seen someone embroider before? Huh?!

Yang Yanzong laughed heartily, his laughter driving away the fatigue from lack of sleep. He picked up the pouting Su Ci and kissed her hard. “Alright, alright, I’m wrong. I won’t laugh anymore.”

He carried her to the short couch, sat with her, kissed and coaxed her until she turned her anger into joy. She glanced at him. “When are you going back?” She snuggled into his arms, warm, playing with his clothes.

“I’ll leave soon, at dawn. I came to see you.”

“What about Prince Qian?”

“It’s all settled.” Yang Yanzong recounted the conversation from the previous night, ending with a hint of coldness. “The Kun family is not the late emperor. As long as we win over the young emperor and have Old General Xu on our side, we have a fighting chance.”

Yang Yanzong squinted. His and Ji Yuanhao’s first goal was to share power with the Kun family, forcing them into a situation where both sides would jointly govern.

In other words, they aimed to split the regency power in half. If they succeeded in this step, they would be invincible. Initially, they were stuck at the point of winning over the young emperor. The Kun family tightly surrounded the young emperor, and they had no way to approach him.

Yang Yanzong kissed Su Ci. However, Su Ci unintentionally broke this obstacle. With Prince Qian on their side, their chances of winning over the young emperor and dealing with the Kun family increased significantly. He sighed, “Now, only you, Ci’er, think about sharing my burdens.”

This was a sweet remark, but Su Ci blinked and sensed something more. She glanced at him, “How is everything at home? Is Mother feeling better?”

She had been away for several days and felt it was time to ask. Of course, she was also curious.

Yang Yanzong’s face immediately darkened. His exhaustion wasn’t just from the mental and physical strain. But he didn’t want to burden her with these matters. He brought her here to recuperate. He simply said, “She’s better, already able to walk a few steps.”

He didn’t want to dwell on it. He took her hand and kissed it, “Once things are settled, you can go home.”

By then, no one, not even Empress Dowager Kun, would be able to make her suffer in silence.

Yang Yanzong kissed her twice and noticed several deep needle pricks on her index and middle fingers. They were particularly deep. After all, an inexperienced hand couldn’t control the needle well.

Yang Yanzong hesitated but couldn’t bear to say no. He whispered, “How about you embroider something simpler?” No more tigers.

Su Ci rolled her eyes. If she couldn’t manage it, she would definitely choose something simpler. She wasn’t foolish, no need for him to say it. But she sweetly hugged Yang Yanzong’s neck and acted coy, “No, it’s for you!”

Yang Yanzong held her tightly, his lips curling into a smile that reached his ears. Her presence dispelled much of his fatigue and gloom. He struggled to keep his voice steady, coughing lightly, “Alright, if it really doesn’t work, we’ll talk about it later.” He kissed her fingertips, “Don’t hurt yourself.”

He didn’t want to part, but time was running out. He could already hear A Zhao’s familiar footsteps and the soft conversation with the guards.

Not yet parted, but already missing her. All because of that damn Empress Dowager Kun!

It seemed he needed to speed up the plan to suppress the Kun family.

---

Despite their reluctance, it was time to leave. Dawn arrived as they spoke, and A Zhao called softly from outside. Yang Yanzong had to get up.

Su Ci wanted to see him off, but he glared at her. She was still in her white nightgown and cloak, daring to run outside?!

Su Ci laughed, quickly putting on her outer clothes and pants in less than three seconds, wrapping herself in the cloak.

Yang Yanzong had no choice but to let her.

The early morning was a bit chilly. As soon as Yang Yanzong stepped out of the main gate, his expression turned serious. He led A Zhao and the others, who were ready to depart, towards the villa gate.

The horses neighed, and the sound of hooves echoed. Yang Yanzong stepped forward and exchanged a few words with Ji Yuanhao in a low voice. Meanwhile, Su Ci pulled aside a familiar-looking young man and asked, “What’s going on at home?”

The young man blushed and looked a bit nervous. He hesitated for a moment before saying in a low voice, “The old lady is injured.”

“And the second young mistress has had a miscarriage scare and is bedridden.”

Oh my. Really? So much drama? No wonder Yang Yanzong, usually so strong, seemed a bit weary. But Su Ci couldn’t do much. After all, that was Yang Yanzong’s mother, and she couldn’t be replaced.

She quietly instructed, “If anything happens, send a message. Make sure A Zhao takes good care of him and his daily needs.”

The young man didn’t dare mention that Master had instructed not to disturb the Young Madam unless necessary. He quickly nodded, indicating he understood.