Wen Qitian returned from Yuyao Palace, searching her mind for the plot provided by the System.
She had no memories of the original host; everything was based on the storyline given by the System.
The original host had an older brother who had followed their uncle to the border since childhood, returning only during festivals and holidays.
Previously, Wen Qitian hadn’t paid much attention to this, as she would return home once her mission was complete.
But now, why did the original host’s brother look so much like her own brother?
As dusk fell, the grand and opulent Nanli Palace felt vast, oppressive, and lonely. The setting sun signaled the arrival of night. Wen Qitian sat by the bed, engrossed in a portrait Nan Fengyao had given her.
She missed her brother, missed that warm home, rather than living under someone else’s roof, constantly pretending, where a single misstep could displease others.
The image of that cold, distant figure flashed in her mind. Wen Qitian bit her lip, her earlier intention to feign a nightmare wavering.
Why pretend? Why placate him? Who indulged his rotten temper?
If he had his hardships, didn’t she have hers?
Thinking this, Wen Qitian suppressed the urge to seek out Nan Leli and instead began longing to see Wen Yongsī.
Even if he wasn’t her brother, seeing that face might ease her longing.
The New Year was just a month or two away. He would return.
She could wait a little longer.
Wen Qitian stood up, intending to store the portrait in a cabinet, but recalling the previous incident, she placed it beside her pillow instead.
This spot was discreet; even Bai Zhi and the others wouldn’t easily disturb items on her bed.
“Miss.”
Just as she finished, Yue E entered. Wen Qitian cleared her throat softly. “Any leads on Wei Chang?”
“The clothing has been examined. It appears to have been coated with serpent powder. I’ve heard serpent powder is extracted from a type of venomous snake. Ingesting it causes immediate death, but prolonged contact delays the time of death. Lord Wei is still investigating and expects results within a day or two. His Majesty gave them a seven-day deadline, so there should be enough time.” Yue E paused. “Are you really not going to see His Majesty?”
“No!” Wen Qitian replied resolutely, letting out a stubborn huff. “Who isn’t a precious baby themselves?”
Yue E: “…” So, what exactly is the connection between the miss and being a baby?
…
Initially, results were expected in two or three days, but too many people had handled the clothing. Palace attire, including the garments of palace maids, was uniformly laundered by the Washing Bureau, so the timeline was extended again.
It could be said that working in the Washing Bureau was one of the dirtiest and most exhausting jobs in the palace, with nearly a thousand low-ranking maids. Investigating each one would take at least two or three days.
The court was also in turmoil. Nan Leli nearly executed someone on the spot during the morning assembly.
“The northern region has long been unstable, and tensions along our border have escalated over the past few months. Although Jingnan does not fear them, at this critical juncture, you tell me—why was the military provisions convoy intercepted? Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of War, are your brains only good for being chopped off?”
Usually, the court was a cacophony of arguments, but with the emperor enraged, no one dared utter a word.
Early that morning, an urgent report arrived from the border: the provisions convoy destined for the frontier had vanished without a trace, largely replaced with stones and straw.
Beituo launched a sudden attack, catching the border troops off guard. Fortunately, General Su and Wen Shaojiangjun detected the anomaly in time and managed to salvage the situation.
However, this was only temporary. The message stated that although the enemy had been repelled, the young general was severely wounded, and his fate remained uncertain.
Long periods of peaceful living had led to lax support from the rear—how could Nan Leli not be furious?
He didn’t care about the lives of some people, but that didn’t mean just anyone could ride roughshod over him.
Back then, to escape the Former Emperor’s murderous intent, Nan Leli had requested to be stationed at the border, where he slaughtered Beituo until not a single scrap of armor remained. Seeing his ruthlessness toward Beituo, the Former Emperor had given him a breathing space.
Now these useless fools, after just a few years without war, had already degenerated to this state.
The Minister of Revenue was in charge of Jingnan Kingdom’s military finances and salaries, and provisions were also allocated through him. Those responsible for escorting the provisions were from the Ministry of War. Knowing they had erred, they knelt on the ground, crying out their innocence.
The provisions had been under their watch from start to finish—no one had expected things to turn out this way.
The Ministry of War argued, “We checked everything the night before departure. This must have happened after it left the Ministry of Revenue…”
The Minister of Revenue angrily retorted, “What are you implying? Do you think I would swap out the provisions after you left?”
In an instant, the entire court erupted into chaos, each side desperate to pin the blame on the other.
Nan Leli sat on the dragon throne, his face beneath the crown ashen, his brow furrowed with irritation and malice.
Bang—
With a sweep of his sleeve, everything on the dragon desk crashed to the floor. A teacup offered nearby shattered into pieces, landing right at the feet of the assembled officials.
“Keep arguing, and I’ll have your tongues ripped out!”
The Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War immediately fell silent.
Nan Leli’s voice was as cold as an ice cellar. “Pei Xiuwen, take them to the Dali Temple for strict interrogation. Where is Yang Ping?”
Yang Ping stepped forward. He was tall and imposing, with an air of unwavering integrity.
“Quickly mobilize personnel and escort a new batch of provisions to the north. This time, there must be no mistakes.”
“Your servant obeys!”
With the Emperor in a foul mood, the atmosphere in the entire palace shifted. The Dali Temple swiftly launched an investigation into the provisions case.
The border situation was critical, and for Wen Qitian, it felt like a blow to the head. She had just been waiting for her brother to return, only to learn he had been seriously injured.
Anxious and pacing in circles, she wished she could fly to the border immediately to see how Wen Yongsi was faring.
At the moment, no one in the palace dared to provoke Nan Leli’s explosive temper, and Wen Qitian had no desire to provoke him either. But for her brother’s sake, she repeatedly sought an audience with Nan Leli.
Nan Leli’s anger had yet to subside, and each time, Eunuch Zhang stopped her outside.
Eunuch Zhang pleaded earnestly, “Miss Wen, this servant knows you’re worried, but His Majesty is also suffering. Rest assured, as soon as there’s any news about your brother, this servant will immediately send someone to inform you.”
“Eunuch Zhang, then can I return to the Wen family for a while?” Wen Qitian’s eyes were red with frustration—this time, it wasn’t an act; she was genuinely desperate.
Constantly begging for an audience with Nan Leli wasn’t a solution. Wen Qitian wanted to return to the Wen family to verify something.
Eunuch Zhang wore a troubled expression. “This… please don’t make things difficult for this servant.”
It seemed that without the Emperor’s command, he had no authority to decide.
That dog emperor!
Wen Qitian cursed inwardly and headed straight for Yuyao Palace.
Eunuch Zhang sighed. As soon as he returned to Junlin Palace, he felt the suffocating weight of a piercing gaze.
This couple was going to be the death of him!
Life was hard. Eunuch Zhang sighed again, then instantly put on a sycophantic smile, his face wrinkling like a chrysanthemum. “Your Majesty, the young lady said she missed you just now. Will you really not see her?”
Nan Leli shot him a hostile glare.
Oh dear, his memory was failing him—he’d already worn out that excuse last time.
Eunuch Zhang chuckled awkwardly and bent over to approach him.
“Your Majesty, between husband and wife, quarrels at the head of the bed are resolved at its foot. You…”
“Get out!”
Eunuch Zhang scurried away.
Even from a distance, he could still feel the emperor’s death glare. Only after Eunuch Zhang closed the door did the man withdraw his gaze, scoffing:
“Who said we’re husband and wife!”
I told you, we’re not even the same kind of people.
[Author’s Note]
The mouth is the hardest part of the body.