Xiao Jinyan watched her as she gazed thoughtfully, then unconsciously glanced at the back of her head. He was still a little curious about her true appearance.
Hua Miaomiao led her husband through the rear garden, then held his hand and brought him to the pavilion to sit and enjoy the rare summer breeze.
“Your Highness, the lotus flowers in this pond are so beautiful!”
Hua Miaomiao looked at the flowers in the distance, genuinely admiring them.
Xiao Jinyan heard her, but didn’t look at the flowers. His gaze remained slightly downward as he quietly replied, “Hmm… I suppose they’re pretty.”
Hua Miaomiao glanced back at him, feeling a bittersweet ache in her heart. She knew her husband had endured misfortune he shouldn’t have suffered.
Being born into the royal family inevitably meant facing struggles for power—and sometimes even sibling rivalry or betrayal. Such stories were everywhere in history and in dramas.
Though she didn’t know exactly what Xiao Jinyan was thinking, in this power struggle, he had essentially been sidelined.
Xiao Jinyan noticed her watching him and could see the concern in her eyes, but he had to continue to maintain his disguise.
He couldn’t let her see anything amiss.
The more she knew, the more dangerous it would be.
She had already been drawn into this political game, and if his plans failed, there would be no way for her to avoid being implicated.
Though this imperial marriage had been orchestrated entirely by the Empress, Hua Miaomiao was also a victim. Thinking of this, Xiao Jinyan felt helpless and trapped.
Just as he was about to speak to lighten the mood, Hua Miaomiao beat him to it. “Your Highness, tea! Honestly, the scenery in our residence is really quite nice.”
She handed him a cup of tea, adding, “It’s not too hot. Drink some, Your Highness. Trust me, everything will be fine. I’ll protect you too.”
Standing nearby, Leng Feng was slightly skeptical. How could someone so small protect anyone? But thinking of Hua Miaomiao’s background as the daughter of General Hua, a renowned martial artist, maybe she really could.
Then he thought of Xiao Jinyan himself—surely capable enough that protection wouldn’t be an issue. Relieved, Leng Feng relaxed.
Xiao Jinyan looked at Hua Miaomiao, who was staring dreamily at the lotus flowers. The breeze lifted the strands of hair at her temples, making her seem ethereal and captivating.
He realized he might be paying her too much attention. But as a husband, he thought, they had to share both fortune and misfortune together. So he replied, “Mm, I believe you.”
Hua Miaomiao smiled and looked back at him, her voice sweet: “Don’t worry. I’ll always be good to you.”
Xiao Jinyan smiled faintly. Somehow, he felt he could trust her promise.
..
Meanwhile, in the palace, the Empress paced her private chamber. Xiao Jinyan’s current situation had been entirely her doing, yet she could not afford to be careless.
“Li Mamu, summon General Sun. Tell him it’s urgent!”
She gave the order and sat down, waiting for her brother. Li Mamu left promptly.
The Empress sat in thought, worrying about the sudden disappearance of several people who had long served the Sun family. Her dispatched secret guards had also vanished. Anxiety gnawed at her.
Recently, Sun Zhou had been riding high—he had earned much credit for the Third Prince’s marriage, and the Emperor had rewarded him handsomely.
Now, summoned again by the Empress, he guessed that another important mission awaited him, and hurried to the imperial city.
Arriving at Qingyang Palace, the Empress had been waiting. She ordered Li Mamu to close the doors and stand guard.
Sun Zhou, seeing this, understood that his sister had urgent matters. He composed himself and stood quietly.
“I sense something is wrong. Recently, all the members of the Sun family’s distant relatives who served us have disappeared. Even the secret guards I sent—none survived.”
Though Empress Sun held high status, her ambition was unmatched within the family. Her rise to the throne had been ruthless—many young women had been eliminated along the way. She had never panicked.
But this recent situation unsettled her. If even her elite secret guards had all perished, she knew the adversary was formidable.
This was why she urgently summoned Sun Zhou. She needed answers, or her plans could be jeopardized.
Sun Zhou was alarmed. The guards were all martial arts experts personally selected by him; for all of them to be killed, the opponent could not be ordinary.
While many noble families had retainers, few could match such skill. Such masters were usually hidden away. To investigate would be difficult, and a single misstep could anger powerful families.
Sun Zhou fell silent, fully aware of the gravity and complexity of the situation. Investigation could only be conducted in secret.
The Empress nodded. “You must investigate secretly. Do not alert the noble families. I suspect someone is targeting the Sun family.”
Since Crown Prince Xiao Jinyu’s death, the Emperor had not named a successor. The Empress wished to push her son Xiao Jinwen forward, quietly seeking alliances with the noble families.
Any investigation now could offend these families, so secrecy was essential.
After leaving the palace, Sun Zhou returned to his residence, pondering who could have quietly eliminated so many experts. He knew the major families of the capital well—but who among them could act so silently, and against his own family? A chill ran down his spine.
Meanwhile, in the study, Leng Feng was reporting to Xiao Jinyan about the previous night: “Your Highness, everything has been handled. The Empress’s secret guards have all been eliminated.”
Hearing this, Xiao Jinyan stood by the window and let out a soft hum. “Mm, understood. You may leave.”