Chapter 64 Eavesdropping

Evading the guards of the Eastern Palace was child's play for him, so he nodded in agreement.

Xiao Yunshu instantly felt much more at ease. She immediately slammed her palm onto the table, stood up, and declared with heroic grandeur:

"Splendid. To not hide anything from the Third Imperial Cousin, the Crown Prince did indeed visit the Marquis's Mansion a few days ago. He must have arrived in secret, seemingly to discuss some matters with my father. I could not catch the specifics, only knowing they conspired in the study for a long time. I only discovered it this once, but I presume it was not the first time, and such visits likely occurred before without my knowledge. Given that the Crown Prince resides within the imperial palace, it would naturally be most advantageous if the Third Imperial Cousin could gather intelligence from within the palace walls. Yet, considering the Third Imperial Cousin's current predicament, your retinue of loyal subordinates must be rather sparse. I wonder if it is convenient for you to gather information?"

This was indeed Xiao Jingheng's greatest vulnerability. Because he had never cultivated his own faction of subordinates, gathering intelligence proved somewhat difficult.

Wen Qiao knew this matter placed Xiao Jingheng in a difficult position. Lowering her head, she pondered the situation, realizing Xiao Jingheng probably had no capable men at his disposal. She considered taking the pair of earrings to the Iron Cavalry troops to summon two guards back to help her gather intelligence or ensure her safety—such measures were entirely necessary.

Now that she had formed an alliance with Xiao Jingheng, it was only proper to dispatch two men to his service, enabling him to stretch his wings within the palace, which would naturally make things much more convenient for her as well.

"Never mind, the Third Imperial Cousin need not trouble yourself with this matter; I shall make the arrangements. Just wait at the Imperial Princes' Quarters, and I will have the men delivered directly to you."

With the manpower issue resolved, Xiao Jingheng could move more freely within the palace, and surely no other problems would arise.

It was now the dead of night. If Xiao Jingheng remained out for too long, discovery would be unwise, so she urged him to return promptly lest his grand enterprise be nipped in the bud.

Yet, upon second thought, Xiao Jingheng had inexplicably come to the Marquis's Mansion tonight to investigate. Even if he had not revealed how he obtained the news, Wen Qiao felt they ought to take a look; what if they genuinely uncovered something?

"Trouble the Third Imperial Cousin to guide me toward the study once more. I know the places where Du Qin usually discusses matters with others. Let us go and see if the Crown Prince's trace lingers near my father's domain."

This was precisely Xiao Jingheng's primary objective for tonight's excursion. Hearing Wen Qiao's request, he nodded without the slightest hesitation.

Though Wen Qiao possessed some mastery of lightweight martial arts, her skill paled in comparison to Xiao Jingheng's true prowess. Furthermore, with Xiao Jingheng leading the way, her safety would be better assured. Should she inadvertently make a sound, she would not be easily discovered by those within, unlike their previous encounter.

When that time came, Xiao Jingheng could simply tuck her beneath his arm and flee—a method that was exceedingly convenient, swift, and secure.

Wen Qiao thought this secretly to herself, a smile involuntarily blooming across her face.

As they set off, the situation being less urgent, she employed her own lightweight martial arts to lead the way in front, with Xiao Jingheng following closely behind.

Truth be told, Xiao Jingheng had assumed that given Wen Qiao's upbringing in the countryside for all these years, her mastery of basic medical arts was already the absolute limit; he had never expected her to possess a rudimentary grasp of lightweight kung fu as well.

"My cousin's lightweight skills are quite extraordinary. May I ask who your master was?" Xiao Jingheng asked softly.

There was nothing unspeakable about this, so Wen Qiao offered no concealment.

"It was merely taught to me by a retired veteran living in the countryside. He said that since I am a woman, my physical strength might fall short for fist and foot combat, so I might as well practice lightweight skills instead—at the very least, it would allow me to run away when danger struck."

Wen Qiao spoke half-jokingly. Xiao Jingheng chuckled along, exchanging a few lighthearted jests with her as the two made their way toward the vicinity of the study.

Upon arrival, Wen Qiao tugged at Xiao Jingheng's sleeve, concealing herself beneath the window ledge. Only then did Xiao Jingheng realize that the Marquis of Yongning's Mansion concealed profound mysteries.

No wonder he had not noticed any lights shining from this building when he first entered the mansion, mistakenly believing that illumination was confined solely to Wen Qiao's courtyard. Viewed from the front, this structure possessed no windows whatsoever, rendering the interior light entirely invisible.

The Crown Prince's frequency of leaving the palace over the past two days was quite high. Whether through sheer luck or some other circumstance, Xiao Jingheng and Wen Qiao actually succeeded in catching the sound of Xiao Minghe's voice from outside the study.

"Regarding the matter discussed with my uncle previously, after returning, Gu thought it over carefully and found it slightly troublesome. Instead, why not directly petition His Imperial Majesty to bestow the cousin's hand in marriage? I wonder what my uncle thinks of this?"

Xiao Minghe's tone carried a hint of impatience. Hearing this, Wen Congqing paused slightly, seemingly taken aback that mere wealth could drive Xiao Minghe to such haste, though a trace of doubt stirred within his heart.

If it were truly only about wealth, Xiao Minghe had no need to secure it by offering Wen Qiao the position of primary wife.

Even though Xiao Minghe had not explicitly stated that he was offering the position of Crown Princess, Wen Qiao was, after all, the biological daughter of Princess Changle. With her status thus established, and cherished deeply by both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, it was utterly impossible for her to serve as a concubine. Even a secondary consort position would likely draw the veto of the Empress Dowager.

Wen Congqing well remembered how the Empress Dowager had doted on Changle in years past. Now that Changle had been dead for so many years, the Empress Dowager likely poured all the accumulated affection she owed Changle onto Wen Qiao. How could she possibly permit Wen Qiao to serve another as a concubine?

Even if that person were her own flesh and blood, her imperial grandson, the Empress Dowager would undoubtedly refuse.

"I fear that might be somewhat inappropriate. The girl Wen Qiao has only just returned. If she were married off at such a juncture, His Majesty might well be disinclined to agree. Moreover, that girl possesses quite a strong will nowadays; I doubt I can sway her inclinations, nor do I think she would readily heed my words. Even if Your Highness were to personally petition the Emperor, given His Majesty's deep affection for her, he would likely still seek her personal consent. Should she prove unwilling, Your Highness's plan would inevitably fail."

Wen Congqing vaguely sensed that his daughter harbored no desire to be entangled with the Crown Prince, hence his cautionary words. Xiao Minghe, however, clearly thought otherwise.

He believed that winning Wen Qiao over was merely a matter of time. Her persistent hesitation must stem from mere coy reluctance; it could never be because she looked down upon him.

Seeing Xiao Minghe's absolute confidence, Wen Congqing was left speechless, entirely unsure of how to respond.

Listening from the outside, Wen Qiao could vividly sense Wen Congqing's speechlessness.

Even Wen Congqing could perceive her aversion to any entanglement with the Crown Prince; why on earth was the Crown Prince himself utterly oblivious, remaining so thoroughly self-assured day after day?

Not only Wen Congqing and Wen Qiao found this exasperating, but even Xiao Jingheng, crouching beside Wen Qiao beneath the window, felt a twitch of amusement.

"My uncle need not fret over this matter. Gu observes that while my cousin may not be overly ardent toward me, neither does she appear eager to shun me. Perhaps she merely wishes to leverage this circumstance to secure greater benefits for herself. If I petition His Imperial Majesty directly, His Majesty will undoubtedly grant me some measure of face. Yet, this matter still requires my uncle's nod of approval. After all, regardless of everything, my cousin is the biological daughter of my uncle and aunt. Although my aunt has passed, you are still here, Uncle! If my uncle is unwilling, I surmise anything I say to His Majesty will prove fruitless. But should my uncle consent, that is an entirely different matter. Furthermore, since ancient times, marriage has been dictated by the commands of parents and the words of matchmakers. With your consent, I venture my cousin will raise no further objections."

At this point, Xiao Minghe paused to draw a breath. Accompanied by the expression on his face, it was plain to see that he truly believed conquering Wen Qiao was an absolute certainty. He continued:

"Furthermore, if His Imperial Majesty truly cherishes my cousin, he must surely recognize that marrying her to Gu as the Crown Princess represents an optimal choice. Even if she were a secondary consort initially, upon my ascension to the throne, her status shall certainly not be low. Who knows, Uncle might even become the imperial father-in-law! As the crown prince destined for the imperial throne, His Majesty would thus bestow upon my cousin the most formidable backing imaginable. How could he possibly refuse such a request?"

With Xiao Minghe pressing the point thus, Wen Congqing could only feel profoundly helpless.

Truth be told, his burdens over the past two days were overwhelming. The entire Marquis's Mansion awaited funds, driving him to the verge of desperation with anxiety. Where could he possibly find the leisure to dispatch men to search Wen Qiao's chambers for earrings and the like? Yet, Xiao Minghe appeared exceedingly anxious. That being the case, it seemed he no longer needed to send anyone to search Wen Qiao's quarters.

If Wen Qiao were truly to marry Xiao Minghe and become the Crown Princess, it would bring boundless benefits and zero harm to their Marquis's Mansion.

A single daughter could trade for the elevation of the mansion's status—why not seize such an opportunity?

Wen Congqing calculated internally. The two individuals seated within the study harbored their own distinct agendas, neither paying heed to the other. A heavy silence descended upon the room, while Wen Qiao and Xiao Jingheng, crouching beneath the window, exchanged glances.

"Shall I take my cousin to the rooftop, lift a single tile, and peer at the scene inside?"

Xiao Jingheng was burning with curiosity to witness the expression currently adorning Xiao Minghe's face, and thus spoke in a suppressed, gentle whisper to ensure the two occupants within remained undisturbed.

Wen Qiao nodded. Uttering a brief "Forgive my offense," Xiao Jingheng swept her up beneath his arm and soared onto the roof. Before Wen Qiao could react, she felt her midsection squeezed tightly, nearly causing her to regurgitate the meal she had just consumed.

Noticing Wen Qiao's discomfort, Xiao Jingheng scratched his head with a trace of embarrassment. Yet, the situation being delicate, brevity of speech minimized the risk of discovery, so he merely cast an apologetic look her way. Wen Qiao waved a dismissive hand, and Xiao Jingheng immediately set to work, gently lifting a single roof tile to reveal the interior scene in all its clarity.

Though Xiao Minghe's facial expression remained obscured from this angle, judging solely by the tilt of his crown, one could easily sense the supreme confidence radiating from his entire being.

Lost entirely in her own reflections, Wen Qiao paid no heed to Xiao Jingheng, who cast a profound, meaningful sideways glance at her.

He had known all along that Xiao Minghe could not possibly frequent the Marquis's Mansion without reason. Earlier mention had been made of some manner of earrings; he wondered if the Crown Prince was hatching yet another treacherous plot.

Yet, the precise purpose of these earrings remained a mystery to him, nor had he ever caught wind of any rumors concerning them.

Xiao Jingheng glanced at Wen Qiao once more, perceiving no intention on her part to offer an explanation. He consequently set the matter aside; after all, this was not his primary concern. At present, Wen Qiao's predicament held far greater weight—if she found no way out, once the Crown Prince petitioned the Emperor, Wen Qiao might truly find herself compelled into marriage.

The thought stirred a flicker of anxiety in Xiao Jingheng's breast, fearing she might falter before such a crisis.

Yet Wen Qiao, having overheard the exchange within, simply withdrew her gaze with an expressionless mask. She sat quietly upon the tiled roof, seemingly lost in thought. In truth, however, she was likely straining her ears, hoping to catch any further utterances from the pair inside the study.

In her past life, such an event had never transpired. Rather, it was she who had proactively begged the Emperor to bestow a marriage decree between herself and Xiao Minghe. At that time, the Emperor still harbored a shred of lingering hope for her; upon hearing that her very first audience with her imperial uncle served solely to request this decree, his disappointment became absolute and final.

Xiao Minghe possessed formidable methods; in her past life, a mere flick of his finger sufficed to spin her around his thumb, reducing her to a state of absolute devotion where she feared only that her offerings to him were too meager. Never had she imagined that in this lifetime, the tables would be entirely turned, revealing just how desperate Xiao Minghe truly was.

Perhaps he sought to clutch that pair of earrings within his grasp as swiftly as possible, securing his own untroubled peace.

Whatever his underlying motives might be, Wen Qiao would never allow him to achieve his desires.

The conversation within the study soon drew to a close, and both men parted ways without further utterances of consequence. Seeing Xiao Minghe depart, Wen Qiao urged Xiao Jingheng to escort her back, and then hasten his return to the imperial palace to avert any unforeseen complications or exposure.

Xiao Jingheng nodded. Having safely delivered Wen Qiao to her chambers, he tapped his toes against the ground and vanished into the night.

Reclining upon her bed, Wen Qiao meticulously replayed the dialogue between Wen Congqing and Xiao Minghe in her mind, culminating in a cold, mocking laugh.

How grandiose Xiao Minghe's fantasies were! Did he truly believe that, relying merely on his precarious status as Crown Prince and his superficial good looks, he could extract such a monumental trump card from her? He ought to look in a mirror and reflect on whether he possessed the slightest qualification!