Chapter 224 -

Chapter 224: Chapter

Wenzhe stared at Zi Han for a long, quiet moment. The young scholar remained bowed, his posture steady and unwavering despite the general’s intense gaze.

Finally, Wenzhe’s stern expression softened just a fraction. He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

"Very well," Wenzhe said, his voice deep and serious. "Remember the words you spoke today, Lord Zi Han. If my sister ever sheds a single tear because of you, not even your father’s title will protect you from my sword."

The Prime Minister let out a hearty laugh, waving his hand playfully. "General Xi, you have my word as well! If this boy ever disrespects Lady Lanyin, I will be the first one to teach him a lesson!"

"Thank you, General Xi," Zi Han said, straightening up with a bright, relieved smile. "I will never give you a reason to draw your sword."

Yueqing smiled gracefully at the Prime Minister’s wife, taking over the conversation once more.

"Since both sides are happy, we will have an auspicious date chosen by the astrologers and send over the formal engagement gifts within the week," Yueqing said politely.

"That sounds wonderful, Lady Su," the Prime Minister’s wife replied, looking thoroughly pleased. "We look forward to it."

After exchanging a few more polite pleasantries, Yueqing and Wenzhe stood up and took their leave. Zi Han personally escorted them out to the gates of the Prime Minister’s estate, bowing once more as they stepped into their horse-drawn carriage.

As soon as the heavy wooden doors of the carriage closed and the wheels began to roll along the paved street, Yueqing let out a dramatic sigh and slouched back against the soft silk cushions.

"You really had to threaten the Prime Minister’s son in his own house, didn’t you?" Yueqing nagged, shooting a glare at the man sitting opposite her. "The poor boy looked like he ran five miles just to give you his answer, and you threatened to cut him down!"

Wenzhe leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her with a calm face. "I was simply being clear. Lanyin is my sister. I must protect her."

Yueqing rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. "Right, right... protective brother of the year."

She quickly pulled back the carriage curtain, looking out at the busy marketplace. "Driver, head to the Moonview Tea Pavilion."

Wenzhe frowned slightly, his dark eyes sharpening. "The tea pavilion? Why are we going there?"

"Did you forget?" Yueqing asked, turning back to him with a serious glint in her eyes. "We have another very important person to meet today. I sent a hidden letter to Xiao Chen this morning. He should be waiting for us in a private room upstairs right now."

Wenzhe rolled his eyes childishly, a dark pout instantly forming on his lips. "Xiao Chen again," he muttered under his breath, leaning back against the padded cushions and crossing his arms like a sulking boy. "Must we really meet that arrogant snake today?"

Yueqing turned to face him, her eyes narrowing into a sharp glare as she tapped her foot against the carriage floor.

"Xi Wenzhe! Don’t start this now!" Yueqing scolded in a stern, hushed voice. "You promised me last night that you would be obedient today and behave yourself! Unless... do you want me to use the silk ribbon again? Because I will tie you up right here in this carriage and leave you locked inside while I talk to Xiao Chen alone!"

To prove she wasn’t joking, Yueqing reached into her wide sleeve and pulled out the smooth silk ribbon she had wrapped around her hand the night before. She dangled it right in front of his face, her eyebrows raised in a firm.

Wenzhe’s eyes went wide for a split second as the memory of what happened last night flashed through his mind. His face flushed a sudden, light red, and he immediately cleared his throat, sitting up straight.

"Fine," Wenzhe grumbled, quickly looking away out the carriage window while holding back a embarrassed cough. "I will behave. Put that away."

Yueqing smirked, tucking the silk ribbon safely back into her sleeve with a satisfied huff. "Good. Remember, Xiao Chen isn’t the bad guy here.. the empress is.. We need his alliance if we want to stop your father from doing something stupid and save your entire family from total ruin. So wipe that gloomy look off your face and act like a proper General when we step upstairs!"

Wenzhe let out a heavy sigh, but he didn’t argue any further. He reached out and caught her small hand in his broad palm, squeezing her fingers gently. "I hear you, my wife. I won’t ruin your plan."

A few minutes later, the carriage ground to a smooth halt in front of the grand, three-story Moonview Tea Pavilion. The street outside was bustling with merchants and lively crowds, but the top floor of the pavilion remained quiet and exclusive.

Yueqing and Wenzhe stepped out of the carriage, their grand robes sweeping against the ground as they walked inside. Guided by a trusted attendant who recognized Yueqing’s secret signal, they were brought up the polished wooden stairs to the furthest, most secure private room at the end of the hall.

The attendant knocked twice on the heavy wooden door, then pushed it open.

Inside, sitting gracefully by the open window with a steaming cup of tea in his hand, was Third Prince Xiao Chen. He was dressed in rich navy silk, his sharp, handsome features looking completely calm. But the moment his gaze shifted toward the door and landed on Wenzhe standing right beside Yueqing, his eyebrows shot up in faint surprise.

"Well, well," Xiao Chen murmured, setting his teacup down with a quiet clink as a mischievous smile spread across his face. "When Lady Su’s letter invited me to a quiet tea meeting, I certainly didn’t expect her to bring her moody husband along."

Yueqing looked back and forth between the two men, her arms tightly folded over her chest as she let out a long, heavy sigh.

"You two better not start with me," Yueqing scolded, her eyes darting from Wenzhe to Xiao Chen with absolute sternness. "I brought you two together here after great difficulty. Please, do not annoy me to the brink of sanity today... I beg of you."

Xiao Chen quickly raised his hands in defeat, while Wenzhe sat quietly beside her, not daring to utter another word.

Satisfied that both stubborn men were finally kept in line, Yueqing took her seat at the center of the table. Wenzhe pulled his chair close to hers, and the three of them settled down. Yueqing raised her hand and signaled to the pavilion attendant standing outside the private room.

"Bring out your best pot of jasmine tea and a table full of hot dishes," Yueqing ordered smoothly. "Steamed pork belly, fried fish, and fresh vegetables. Make it quick."

The attendant bowed politely and scurried away, leaving the private room in a comfortable silence.

Within moments, a spread of delicious, steaming food was laid out across the wooden table. The rich aroma filled the air, cutting through the heavy political tension.

Yueqing picked up her chopsticks and immediately began placing choice pieces of tender meat into both Wenzhe’s and Xiao Chen’s bowls, like a tired mother feeding two rowdy boys.

"Eat first," Yueqing said simply, taking a bite of her own food. "We can’t plan a proper strategy to stop a imperial rebellion on an empty stomach."

Xiao Chen looked at the food in his bowl, a genuine, warm smile touching his lips as he took a bite. "Lady Su is right. It has been a long time since I ate a meal like this."

Wenzhe glanced sideways at Xiao Chen’s bowl, then down at his own. Seeing that Yueqing had given him the larger piece of pork belly, a subtle, proud smirk appeared on his face. He chewed his food obediently, his dark eyes still watching the Third Prince with careful attention.

"Now then," Yueqing said, setting her chopsticks down and dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Xiao Chen, tell us about the Emperor’s current health. If the Crown Prince is planning to strike soon, he must be waiting for the Emperor to fall ill or leave the palace."

Xiao Chen’s expression turned solemn as he swallowed his food, setting his teacup down.

"Father’s health has been declining over the past month," Xiao Chen revealed in a quiet, low voice. "The imperial physicians say it is just old age, but I suspect someone has been putting small amounts of slow poison into his daily tea. The Crown Prince is getting impatient. He wants the throne before the Emperor can officially name a successor."

Wenzhe’s brows furrowed sharply into a deep frown. "Poisoning the Emperor is pure treason. If we can catch the person delivering the poison, we can trace it straight back to the Empress."

"Exactly," Xiao Chen nodded. "But the Empress controls the imperial kitchen and the inner court. It is almost impossible to get close without raising suspicion."

Yueqing’s eyes brightened with a clever light as a sharp idea popped into her head. She looked at Xiao Chen, then turned her head to grin at Wenzhe.

"It’s impossible for an official or a general to enter the inner court..." Yueqing said, a mischievous smirk spreading across her face. "But it is completely normal for the Prime Minister’s future daughter-in-law and her family to enter the palace to present wedding gifts to the imperial consort, isn’t it?"