Fortunately, she had already thought of how to answer this question.
She raised her dark, translucent eyes to look directly at Zhao Shen, her gaze unwavering. “You might not believe me if I say it, but I had a dream.”
This was clearly not the answer Zhao Shen had expected. A flicker of surprise flashed across his face before he asked, “A dream? What did you dream about?”
“Everything that happened after I married Zhao Heng. My father and brother died tragic deaths, yet Zhao Heng seized military power in the Northern Border. He helped Yong Wang in his plot to usurp the throne and reached the pinnacle of officialdom through the merit of following the dragon.”
Regardless of whether Zhao Shen believed her or not, Ji Yunshu simply told him everything she knew.
After all, Zhao Shen’s position was not opposed to hers.
Furthermore, no matter what she intended to do next, it would be difficult to avoid Zhao Shen.
More importantly, if she wanted to deal with Zhao Heng, reverse the entire plot, and save her Aunt and the Emperor, she needed power that could influence the imperial court.
She would find it difficult to accomplish these things alone.
Zhao Shen was stunned for a moment before recovering from her words. “You say Yong Wang committed treason?”
Was he only concerned about that?
He didn’t express any doubt or surprise regarding the other matters.
Ji Yunshu mentally reviewed what she had just said and realized that only Yong Wang’s rebellion occurred after Zhao Shen’s death in the original story.
In a flash, a thought surged into her mind.
Following that line of thought, all the inconsistencies surrounding Zhao Shen suddenly made sense.
Ji Yunshu figured that since she could transmigrate into a book, there was nothing that couldn’t happen.
She stared at Zhao Shen, not letting a single expression on his face escape her. “Oh, I forgot to mention just now. In my dream, you died as well.”
As soon as she finished speaking, he abruptly looked up at her.
The moment their eyes met, Ji Yunshu clearly saw a ghastly, chilling coldness within the bottomless depths of Zhao Shen’s pupils.
As expected, how could a heaven’s favored one, born into nobility, fall from the height of his glory into the dust and witness the fickleness of the world and the coldness of human nature, yet remain a gentleman as bright and clear as wind and moon?
The Zhao Shen before her had likely crawled back from hell.
Ji Yunshu, however, did not feel afraid. She let out a long breath and said frankly, “I don’t want to die, and I don’t want my family to die either.”
Zhao Shen stared at her fixedly for a long while before finally speaking. “Neither do I.”
They looked at each other for a moment, and the tense atmosphere gradually eased.
Zhao Shen understood the intent behind Ji Yunshu’s words and asked directly, “What do you want me to do?”
It was so much easier to talk to a smart person.
Ji Yunshu said decisively, “Can we kill Zhao Heng or Yong Wang?”
Since they were destined to be enemies unto death, why bother with inner-court struggles or palace intrigue?
It would be best to settle it once and for all.
To her surprise, Zhao Shen shook his head. “No. I can’t even move against Madam Yao or Yao Ruolan.”
“What do you mean, you ‘can’t move against them’?”
“Regarding my fall from the horse, although there is no evidence, some things don’t actually require evidence. However, no matter what I do, Madam Yao and her son always manage to evade it. Sometimes they even resolve the crisis without even knowing it was there. It’s as if…”
Zhao Shen furrowed his brows as he spoke words he himself was reluctant to believe. “…they truly have the protection of the heavens.”
So they really do have a protagonist’s halo?
Ji Yunshu’s heart sank slightly.
But then she heard Zhao Shen say, “But you married me.”
Ji Yunshu understood his underlying meaning. They couldn’t deal with Zhao Heng directly, but that didn’t mean they could do nothing.
She smiled. “You’re right. Now that I’ve married you, everything will be different.”
After sharing the burden weighing on her heart, Ji Yunshu felt much lighter. She had a good night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, she got up to practice martial arts.
Every day of living was not easy; she decided to properly strengthen herself.
During breakfast, Zhao Shen saw that Ji Yunshu’s hand was trembling slightly as she held her chopsticks.
He couldn’t help but ask, “What made you think of practicing martial arts?”
He had seen her just now; Ji Yunshu’s movements were a bit rusty, suggesting she hadn’t practiced in a long time.
What surprised him, however, was that her foundation was actually quite good, and she was rather gifted.
She was indeed born of a military family.
Ji Yunshu rubbed her wrist and said, “For self-preservation, of course.”
Zhao Shen was silent for a moment. He didn’t say he could protect her, but instead said seriously, “Your talent is good, and your foundation is solid. However, the Ji family’s techniques follow a vigorous and fierce path; it must be quite strenuous for you to practice. I have a set of techniques that might suit you better. Do you want to try them?”
Ji Yunshu nodded quickly. “Of course I do.”
The original owner of this body had been interested in martial arts as a child and had practiced with her brother for a while. Later, when her brother went to the military camp and she entered the palace, the Empress Dowager watched over her like she was a precious pearl and wouldn’t let her touch weapons, so she had set it aside.
Ji Yunshu felt there was no time to lose and intended to ask Zhao Shen for instruction right after breakfast.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Fu, the daughter of the second branch, suddenly came to visit.
Looking at the young girl who was clearly meticulously dressed in a pink robe with a butterflies and flowers embroidery pattern, appearing delicate and gentle, Ji Yunshu was a bit confused as to what the girl wanted.
Relationships with sisters-in-law were always a hassle, but fortunately, Zhao Shen had no biological sisters, so she didn’t need to deal with those from other branches of the family.
In the face of a survival crisis, Ji Yunshu had no intention of cultivating relationships with irrelevant people.
Thinking this, she welcomed her in politely. “Why has Eldest Younger Sister come?”
Zhao Fu’s voice was as soft and gentle as her appearance. “Big Brother and Sister-in-law are newlyweds; I know I shouldn’t disturb you at this time. However, I heard from those in the main courtyard that First Mother is ill. I thought Sister-in-law might accompany me to visit her.”
Ji Yunshu really hadn’t known that Madam Yao was ill. She immediately understood Zhao Fu’s intent.
The girl probably feared that since Ji Yunshu was a newcomer, she wouldn’t know what was happening in the main courtyard, and if she ignored her mother-in-law’s illness, it would give people cause to gossip.
Strictly speaking, it was a kind gesture.
Ji Yunshu smiled and said, “Thank you for the reminder, Eldest Younger Sister. Let us go and see her together then.”
When in Rome, do as the Romans do; in this era, filial piety is greater than heaven.
Even if she wanted to kill Madam Yao in her heart, she couldn’t be unfilial to her mother-in-law on the surface.
Zhao Fu seemed not to have expected Ji Yunshu to be so straightforward.
She froze for a moment, then followed her out before asking, “Isn’t Big Brother going?”
Logically, Zhao Shen should go too, but Ji Yunshu felt that since their relationship was poor, there was no need to keep up appearances.
She said casually, “Your Big Brother isn’t feeling well either. He might have been tired from returning to the natal home with me yesterday; he didn’t even eat much for breakfast today.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu said anxiously, “Is Big Brother ill again? What did the doctor say?”
Ji Yunshu looked at the genuine concern and worry on her face and felt a bit dazed. Was there truly deep sibling affection here?
But why did she say “again”?
She asked inconspicuously, “Your Big Brother said he’ll be fine after resting for a couple of days, no need for a doctor. I’ve just arrived and didn’t know—is the Shizi often ill?”
Zhao Fu seemed to feel she had misspoken and tried to fix it. “No, Big Brother’s health is actually very good. He just stays in his courtyard and doesn’t like to come out, so people say he is frail. Sister-in-law, you needn’t believe those rumors.”
“Is that so?”
Ji Yunshu suddenly remembered that in the original book, Zhao Shen was indeed somewhat sickly, so his later death seemed natural and without any suspicion.
But now, aside from his broken leg, his health seemed fine. Why were there still such rumors?
While they were talking, they arrived at the main courtyard, where an old maidservant welcomed them in.
Madam Yao, hearing they had arrived, had someone help her sit up.
She seemed very seriously ill, possessing no strength and leaning against a cushion.
Ji Yunshu truly hadn’t expected Madam Yao to be this sick. Channeling her acting skills to the maximum, she stepped forward with concern. “Mother, what happened? How did you become so ill after only a few days?”
As soon as she spoke, everyone in the room looked at her as if she were a monster.