In one night, all the hidden stakes Li Yuan had in the Chu Country Capital were destroyed. Without a doubt, that mad woman’s face would turn foul. Wen Wan was in a great mood and drank half an extra bowl of porridge for breakfast. Afterward, she donned a cloak, held a hand warmer, and leisurely headed to the palace.

Zhao Xi was not attending court today. He was sitting in the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, discussing the upcoming sacrificial ceremony with the Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office.

When Wen Wan arrived, Eunuch Sanbao asked her to wait outside.

She waited for more than half an hour, the coals in the hand warmer turning to cold ashes. Wen Wan shivered, looked at Eunuch Sanbao, and asked, "Does Your Majesty have anything urgent? If it’s inconvenient, I can go see the Empress first and return later."

Eunuch Sanbao replied with lowered eyes, "His Majesty is discussing the sacrificial ceremony with the Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office. He asks the Commandery Princess to wait outside. If you leave early and His Majesty doesn’t see you later, he will get angry."

Wen Wan let out a soft hum. She wasn’t a fool; she could tell that Zhao Xi was intentionally making her wait and letting her stand in the cold wind.

Holding the gradually cooling hand warmer, Wen Wan stamped her frozen feet and looked repeatedly towards the hall’s door, but the Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office still didn’t seem like he was going to come out.

The cold wind blew fiercely. Wen Wan wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and thought about going to warm up with the Empress first and then coming back. The young emperor probably wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.

Just as she was thinking of heading to Yikun Palace, the Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office, wearing a cloud-patterned official robe with a purple ribbon, came out of the hall. Seeing Wen Wan, he paused, then saluted her, "This old official greets the Commandery Princess."

After all, he was Song Wei’s superior. This old official’s attitude towards her was still appropriate, but Wen Wan could see that his expression was quite complex. He likely felt unfairness for Song Wei but did not dare to express it.

Therefore, he did not linger, only giving a brief greeting before leaving.

Wen Wan maintained a perfectly composed smile, watching the Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Office walk away, before her smile gradually faded. Just as she turned around, she was met with Eunuch Sanbao’s smiling face, "Commandery Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."

Wen Wan handed the now-cold hand warmer to Eunuch Sanbao, rubbed her frozen hands, and stepped inside.

Zhao Xi sat on the dragon throne with five-clawed golden engravings. Seeing her, his gaze was playful, "Are you frozen?"

Wen Wan nodded with grievance, sniffed, and complained, "Your Majesty is so cruel. You know my constitution isn’t good, yet you punish me by making me stand outside. What if I catch a cold and Third Son comes to you asking for me, how will you explain it to him?"

Zhao Xi picked up the hot tea from the table and took a sip, his voice indifferent, "Do you know why I punished you?"

Wen Wan mumbled, "I don’t."

"If you don’t know, then stand outside until you realize your mistake."

Wen Wan had almost frozen outside and was of course unwilling to go back out. She lowered her long lashes and said softly, "Your Majesty is displeased with my private actions."

Yesterday, she set fire to the post house and kidnapped Fu Zichuan without consulting Zhao Xi in advance.

She was dissatisfied with Zhao Xi’s slow actions, always hesitating here and there. So she simply added fuel to the fire to completely escalate the conflict. Fortunately, Zhao Xi’s mind worked fast, and his deployment was swift, catching up to her pace. In one night, he uprooted Li Yuan’s meticulously arranged stronghold.

It was finally a close call without danger.

Zhao Xi’s gaze deepened, "If I hadn’t reacted in time to what you were doing, hadn’t kept up the deployment to destroy Bei Yan’s hidden stakes, your fire at the post house and kidnapping of Prince Liang’s heir would have been like bringing fire upon yourself. If Li Yuan had found a chance to retaliate, I fear even I couldn’t protect you."

Wen Wan certainly knew it was risky, but wealth is sought amidst danger. How would she know it wouldn’t work if she didn’t try?

Besides, she wasn’t thoughtless, bold, and reckless—it’s just that she couldn’t wait any longer. She couldn’t wait to reunite with her family.

Although there was her mother and brother in Changning Marquis Mansion, every night she couldn’t stop thinking of Song Wei far away in Ningzhou, missing Jinbao and Qi Bao, those two little ones. In his letters, Song Wei said that when spring came and the village school was built, he would return to Upper River Village to be a pioneering teacher for the children. She wondered how they were doing now.

It had only been a few months since they parted, and she was already missing and thinking about them all the time. Even writing letters couldn’t alleviate her longing. What about the two plus years that follow?

Zhao Xi saw Wen Wan’s mind wandering and did not interrupt her.

When Wen Wan came to her senses, most of her restless thoughts had already subsided, "Your Majesty, I came to the palace today with a question to ask you."

Zhao Xi gestured for her to sit.

Wen Wan sat on a nearby Taishi Chair before Zhao Xi asked, "What is your question?"

Wen Wan said, "I’ve learned quite a bit about the Beiyang Imperial Concubine’s situation. She once led a 300,000-strong army to rescue the current Emperor Yan during Bei Yan’s most perilous time, which is why Emperor Yan cherishes her dearly. Not only did he agree to let her keep those 300,000 troops as her dowry to control, but he also entrusted her with the power of the harem. She even participates in court affairs.

In this way, the Imperial Concubine holds a very important position in Emperor Yan’s mind. Emperor Yan doesn’t worry that the Imperial Concubine might usurp the throne. I fear that even if the Imperial Concubine proposed to become the Empress, Emperor Yan would hand it over to her without hesitation.

I want to ask Your Majesty, if it were you, would you unconditionally pamper and trust that woman, to the point of giving her your empire’s foundation for free? Under such conditions, what would a woman do that would make you particularly angry, angry enough to want to take back everything you had given her?"

Zhao Xi furrowed his brow slightly, "The situation you mentioned is impossible."

Wen Wan choked a bit, the young emperor had a sharp mind, but sometimes, his thoughts were too simple, not matching his strikingly handsome appearance and usually thunderous means. Perhaps someone like him was relatively simple in matters of the heart, thinking himself as insensible like a stone when unfeeling, yet all-consuming once he felt emotions — destined to love till death.

"It’s just a hypothetical scenario!" Wen Wan pleaded, "I ask Your Majesty to think from the standpoint of a man, from Emperor Yan’s position. Reflect carefully, what could Li Yuan have done to make you furious enough to consider deposing her?"

Zhao Xi barely thought before saying, "Contrary to trust is betrayal; the more trust you invest, the more painful and angry you are when betrayed."

Wen Wan had pondered before, that Emperor Yan trusted and cherished the Imperial Concubine so deeply, if she betrayed him he surely couldn’t bear it.

Yet, Emperor Yan could even yield the throne if the Imperial Concubine wished to seize power. What would then count as betrayal to him?

Zhao Xi mused for a moment before asking Wen Wan, "Are you planning to deal with the Imperial Concubine?"

Wen Wan nodded, "Since Bei Yan is under the control of the Imperial Concubine, then bringing her down makes things much simpler. Moreover, I want revenge for someone."

"Su Qing’s wife?" Zhao Xi clearly understood everything.

Wen Wan had no prior association with the Imperial Concubine; if there’s enmity, it stemmed from the issue with Amuer.

The Imperial Concubine once wanted to take Amuer away, indirectly leading to a conflict between Wen Wan and Lin Xiaoyue.

Zhao Xi learned of these events from information passed by the Hidden Guards.

Wen Wan did not deny it.

Last night, at Changning Marquis Mansion, Lin Xiaoyue, although silent, clearly harbored deep hatred towards the Beiyang Imperial Concubine and Amuer’s aunt.

Back then, Song Wei suggested sending Su Qing to the Western Border, and Wen Wan always felt guilty towards Lin Xiaoyue. Now it’s time to do something for her.

"Consider it thoroughly," Zhao Xi said. "The Imperial Concubine is not someone easily dealt with; to scheme against her requires extreme caution and planning. Overthrowing her quickly is nearly impossible."

Wen Wan knew she was being impulsive, "I was merely asking for Your Majesty’s opinion. If Your Majesty thinks plotting for the Imperial Concubine to betray Emperor Yan is feasible, I’ll think of a strategy and then discuss it with Your Majesty."

Zhao Xi nodded lightly.

With the discussion over, Wen Wan rose to leave.

Zhao Xi suddenly called out to her.

Wen Wan turned back, "Does Your Majesty have other matters?"

Zhao Xi hesitated, then shook his head, "No, you may leave."

After leaving the palace, Wen Wan returned straight to Changning Marquis Mansion, freezing herself outside the Qianqing Palace earlier. She planned to soak in a hot bath to warm up but before she could tell Linglong to prepare the water, Zhao Xunyin arrived with Lu Yanli.

Seeing her younger brother in a fluffy cotton outfit, Wen Wan’s lips curved into a smile, "Yan Li, come over and let sister hug you."

Lu Yanli obediently walked over to Wen Wan, who held him and sat him on the warm couch, asking if he was cold and if he’d gone to play with friends today.

The little guy wasn’t as lively as Jinbao, but well-behaved and clever, answering every question Wen Wan asked without being noisy or annoying.

Zhao Xunyin sat down and spoke with Wen Wan, "After you entered the palace, Madam Su arose for breakfast, and I arranged for her to be escorted back."

Wen Wan nodded, acknowledging.

"There’s something else," Zhao Xunyin said, "Wei Lin just informed me, Your Majesty has arranged for someone to protect you secretly." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Wei Lin is Wei Qian’s brother; both were originally Zhao Xunyin’s Hidden Guards. However, Wei Qian was assigned beside Song Wei many years ago, leaving Wei Lin still by Zhao Xunyin’s side, recently tasked to protect Wen Wan.

Learning Zhao Xi had arranged protection for her, Wen Wan chuckled, "He’s really an introverted type; I’ve been direct with him several times, asking him to pamper me, yet he shows no reaction. Now secretly protects me, perhaps to prevent me from inadvertently falling for him and repaying kindness with betrayal?"

Zhao Xunyin reproached, "You’re too old to still be this playful."

Wen Wan stuck out her tongue; she merely found Zhao Xi too boring and was amusing herself with teasing.