A piece of Japanese incense

Chapter 205 Trust

Zhi Yihe rushed back to Sanchuan City without stopping. During this period of time, the letters she wrote to Yu Nian fell into the sea and she did not receive a single word. She was very worried about him and wondered how he was doing at the border and whether he had followed the Yan family army back to the capital.

She decided to take Siqi and the princess to Menghui City, as it was not appropriate to stay in Sanchuan City for long. She speculated that Hefeng had come to Sanchuan not just to find her, but he must have secretly explored the secret passages and traps in the city. He was so smart that he might even know where the radium stones, rolling logs, arrows and other defensive arrangements on the city walls were.

Siqi's condition has not improved. Although he is not as weak as before, he still has difficulty walking.

Zhi Yihe finally believed the old emperor's words. His grandfather...had actually poisoned Siqi...

Why would my grandfather, who was always kind and gentle, do such a cruel thing to a child? Was it because of my mother? When did Emperor Zhaoding know about it? Was Emperor Zhaoding related to my grandfather's death?

Zhi Yihe was in a very complicated mood. She stood on the attic and looked out. She saw the princess pushing Siqi for a walk in the garden. Siqi was talking to the princess weakly, coughing more than talking.

If Siqi set off rashly, she would not be able to hold on. But if she stayed, what would she do if Hefeng led his troops to come? Not to mention whether they could defend the city, wouldn't it be tantamount to treason to be an enemy of the prince? But she had finally escaped. If he caught her again, it would be even more difficult to rescue her grandmother and the others. Besides, there were still thousands of people in the city. How could she let them get into trouble?

Zhi Yihe sighed and walked towards the kitchen worriedly, preparing to find some food to fill her stomach, but she saw Yu Yi and Shan Yi sitting on the steps of the corridor chatting. She was curious and quietly walked in...

"Are you really not going to tell the young master about our affairs?" Shan Yi asked.

"Don't! The girl has been worried since she came back, and I don't want her to be distracted because of me."

"I see you don't want to marry me!"

Yuyi quickly covered Danyi's mouth and lowered her head shyly: "You! What nonsense are you talking about!"

"You keep saying 'girl' all the time, but your girl doesn't need you to serve her."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Yu Yi turned away.

Zhiyihe left silently on tiptoe, thinking that it was time to arrange a marriage for Yuyi.

Zhi Yihe walked slowly into the courtyard where the princess was. The maid on night duty bowed and saluted. Zhi Yihe asked leisurely, "Is the princess asleep?"

"My Lord, Madam..."

"Is Yihe here? Please invite her in!"

Zhi Yihe stepped into the dark room, where only two flickering candles provided barely any light.

"We are really in tune with each other. I was just about to send someone to invite you, and you happened to come."

The princess held her hand, sat together on the bed, and fanned her with a folding fan.

"Your Highness, you are too polite. I can do it myself." Zhi Yihe felt a little uncomfortable. He took the round fan from the maid and fanned himself vigorously a few times.

"Yihe, for so many years, you have always been wary of me."

Zhi Yihe didn't dare look at her. He sat up straighter and smiled to change the subject: "What do you want to talk to me about, Your Highness?"

"Oh, that's right. I thought about it for a long time. Xiao Qi's body can't stand the fatigue of traveling. My mother also wrote a letter to indicate that we just need to wait here, so..."

Zhi Yihe was surprised: "Your Highness, have you received the letter from the Queen?"

"Well, that's right." The princess paused for a moment and asked tentatively, "Yihe - but do you have anything to say?"

"Did the Queen mention my brother Yu Nian in her letter?"

"Um... a little bit."

Zhi Yihe leaned back and asked in a calm voice, "What do you mean?"

"It was just a mention. Just saying that my cousin found his long-lost son. That's all."

Zhi Yihe said nothing, leaned back silently, and thought to himself: the letter I wrote in Beijing did not receive a response, perhaps it was withheld by Hefeng, but the letter I wrote to Yu Nian in Sanchuan also did not receive a reply. Brother Nian would never ignore me. If the princess can communicate with the queen, then someone does not want them to have any contact.

She narrowed her eyes and stared at the princess through the dim candlelight.

(Emperor Zhaoding knew that Siqi had been poisoned. Does that mean that the Empress and the Princess also knew about it? They might have been secretly looking for famous doctors to treat Siqi. When they said that my grandfather's prescription was in the palace, it was probably just an excuse to deal with me. They might not have trusted me from the beginning.

When I was not in Sanchuan City, Siqi would not be able to handle all the affairs by himself. If it were not for the fact that everyone only recognized my face, I might have been removed privately like my grandfather. The Queen is known for her thunderous methods. How can I cope with it? I am not sure if I will be swallowed up by the Yan Family Army after I take these tens of thousands of people to join them. After they sideline me, I will no longer be useful.

Daddy has spent many years to build up his business. Since they are all his children, it is natural for Siqi to take over the business rather than an outsider like me. Oh no! It seems that going to Menghui City is not a good idea. Maybe I will just walk into a trap.)

Thinking of this, Zhi Yihe thought that it was better to rely on himself than on others, so it would be better to stay in Sanchuan City, wait for the opportunity to come, and act accordingly.

"Yihe?" A soft call interrupted my thoughts.

Zhi Yihe turned around and saw the princess looking at him suspiciously, so he smiled calmly and said, "The Queen is very wise, and we should obey her instructions."

The queen smiled and nodded, and said softly: "You are still young, there is no need to worry about such trivial matters, but just listen to the arrangements of the elders. Relax, your father has been planning for many years. This Sanchuan City is impregnable, and there are so many people guarding it. Let's wait here. After the Yan family army puts down the rebellion and the government is stable, you and Siqi can return to the capital in glory and reunite with your father's family."

Zhi Yihe smiled in agreement, and then asked, "Princess, do you know your father's background?"

The princess was caught off guard by the question. She picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea nonchalantly before she slowly said, "That's natural."

"Then when your majesty takes control of the government again, how will the princess face her father?"

The princess put down the cup, her face cold: "Prince Yun and Concubine Xin are dead, this matter is a thing of the past, the prince consort was bewitched, it is understandable, he is now in prison, he has repented."

"Do you think... Daddy will let go easily?"

The princess suddenly took graceful steps, took out a brocade box from the bedside cabinet, raised her little finger, and smiled sweetly: "Oh, right! How could I forget, Yihe, this is the coming-of-age gift I prepared for you. It's been several months, and I'm giving it to you today, please don't be offended."

Zhi Yihe took it respectfully with both hands and opened the lid of the box. He saw a colorful and strange grass lying quietly inside. In the dark night, the stem emitted a faint green light, and the light flowed along the veins of the stem like faint starlight.

Its leaves are long and narrow, as thin as cicada wings, and the edges of the leaves emit blue light, like lace drawn with a brush dipped in fluorescent paint.

Zhi Yihe placed the box under the light and admired it carefully. The surface of the leaves was covered with a thin layer of silver frost. When the angle changed, the leaves turned into golden yellow.

Zhi Yihe looked at the princess in shock. The princess looked at her softly, smiled and said sweetly, "This is 'Liuguang Grass'. I know you like making incense and prefer to collect rare plants and flowers, so I collected this for you. Do you like it?"

Zhi Yihe raised his voice and nodded frequently: "I like it! Your Highness is thoughtful! Thank you, Your Highness!"

The princess was delighted, took her hand and said happily: "As long as you are happy~"

Zhi Yihe felt a subtle resistance to this sudden intimacy. She took a step back and bowed to say goodbye: "It's getting late, you should go to bed early."

"Good~"

Zhi Yihe was about to leave when he thought of something else and turned back to ask, "Your Highness, I dreamed of a painting. Could you give me some advice?"

"Oh?"

Zhiyi and Sui were about to give a rough description of what he had pieced together in his mind, and the princess frowned in thought.

Seeing that she seemed to be frozen, Zhi Yihe smiled awkwardly and said with a cupped hand: "Maybe I just dreamed about it. You don't have to take it to heart. I'll take my leave now."