TFSRITA Chapter 92

Zhu Yin smiled slightly, turned, and left, her steps quick as she vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yan Qing, seeing this, quickly lifted her skirt and found the nearest inn to check-in.

…

True to her word, Zhu Yin was highly efficient. Less than fifteen minutes after Yan Qing had checked in, a knock sounded at the door.

When Yan Qing opened it, she found Song Yu standing outside, his face pale.

Seeing her, Song Yu flinched slightly, his gentle peach blossom eyes filled with guilt. He lowered his gaze and said softly, “I’m sorry, I failed.”

Yan Qing took two steps back, allowing him to enter. She nodded at Zhu Yin outside before closing the door and asking, “What happened?”

Song Yu opened his mouth, his lips cracked and pale, showing the toll he had suffered recently. His voice, slightly hoarse, filled the room of the inn.

He had been saved by Yan Shi after an accident, and Yan Shi’s condition for saving him was that he marry his younger brother, Song Zhuo. At first, Song Yu didn’t want to agree, but the debt of saving his life outweighed everything. Besides, Yan Shi was right—children of noble families usually marry within their class, and though Yan Qing was a concubine’s daughter, her father was a prime minister and her sister a favored consort, possibly even the future empress. Marrying someone who wasn’t a direct heir wasn’t a big issue.

He thought it would be a simple inquiry, and if Song Zhuo wasn’t willing, that would be the end of it. But when the message was sent, Song Zhuo agreed right away and even had his father go to Yan Chengxiang to propose.

After the proposal, Song Zhuo wasn’t young anymore, and Yan Shi didn’t want to stay with the Yan family any longer. So, the wedding was arranged quickly. At that time, Ji Yecheng suddenly issued a decree, calling Song Yu back on the pretext of his injury and the Song family’s wedding.

Song Yu returned to Chang’an with Yan Shi, but soon after, Ji Yecheng issued another decree—there was unrest in the northern frontier, General Lin was leading an army to pacify it, but the army needed the imperial seal.

Song Yu didn’t want to comply and tried to swap the seal. However, his father discovered it. Loyal and firm, Song’s father, furious, took the real seal and confined him to the Song residence, not allowing him to leave.

Now, his father was very cautious about him handling military matters and even planned to have him sent far away to serve as a governor after Song Zhuo’s wedding.

Yan Qing listened in a daze, her lips pressed tightly together. She scrutinized Song Yu with a probing gaze. Was Ji Yecheng just too powerful, or was Song Yu not as capable as he was portrayed in the book?

The more ashamed Song Yu became under her gaze, the quieter he spoke, “Qing’er, if you’re angry, just hit me. It’s my fault.”

His initial desire to rebel was motivated by his wish not to see Yan Qing powerless in the palace. After gaining her support, he felt confident. But now, everything that had been going smoothly fell apart in just a few months.

Yan Qing slowly shook her head, her mind running like a machine, feeling stiff. Suddenly, she seemed to wake up and asked, “You’re injured? How did you get hurt?”

Song Yu replied, “There was a traitor in the army who spread false information, making me think the enemy was alone. I pursued them, but I didn’t expect to be ambushed.”

Yan Qing fell silent. She understood now. It wasn’t what she had said that day; it was that Ji Yecheng had seen Jia Heng’s memorial, and he had indeed sent someone.

Song Yu felt deep guilt and dared not speak. In front of the one he loved, his grand ambitions—whether she knew or not—left him feeling embarrassed.

He had failed in his ability, and now he had lost all hope of competing with Ji Yecheng.

The room fell quiet. Yan Qing was silent, and Song Yu even more so.

Soon, Song Chuan appeared, urgently calling for Song Yu.

Song Yu didn’t want to leave, but he seemed to be in poor health. Song Chuan dragged him away forcefully. He didn’t even manage to resist for long before he was subdued.

The room was left empty, and Yan Qing stood there, still in a daze.

She had completely changed the plot of the novel.

Yan Shi wasn’t with Song Yu; she was already betrothed to Song Zhuo. Under normal circumstances, they couldn’t have any further connection.

Song Yu, who was supposed to become emperor, unexpectedly fell short and had to retreat.

And she, who should have been dead, had survived after numerous life-and-death moments.

So, the emperor she had to assist could only be Ji Yecheng?

Yan Qing was unwilling. Even though she had intentionally provoked Ji Yecheng to anger him back then, certain events that followed had left a deep impression on her.

…

When Ji Yecheng, cold and imposing, pushed open the inn door, what he saw was Yan Qing’s back. The beautiful blue gown she wore clung to her slim body, her waist so delicate it seemed to bend with the slightest movement. She stood straight, unmoving, her long hair cascading like ink behind her, stirred slightly by the wind that came through the open window. Her pale, emotionless profile made him feel a sharp pain in his chest.

At that moment, Ji Yecheng felt as if she were the only person in the world. He stood frozen, not knowing what to do or where to go next.

He paused, not seeing Song Yu, and his gathered fury seemed to dissipate. Or rather, he didn’t want to release it.

Everyone stood still, waiting for the Emperor to speak.

Ji Yecheng hesitated, swallowed his fury, and approached slowly, his expression softening. Tentatively, he reached out to hold her hand and said in a low voice, “Come back to the palace with me.”

Yan Qing felt a cold shiver from his touch and snapped back to her senses. She looked at him, her brows instinctively furrowing.

Ji Yecheng immediately released her hand, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes as he whispered, “Come back to the palace.”

Yan Qing turned and walked away.

Ji Yecheng let out a breath of relief and followed her, feeling a sense of confusion as he looked at his hand. Had he just sensed her confusion too?

…

“Your Highness, these are chili seeds; you can’t eat them,” Grandma Qian gently stopped the chili seeds from being brought to the consort’s lips.