Chapter 165: Longing to See You

Chapter 165: Longing to See You

"Yet I've heard that the Crown Prince treats you exceptionally well," Ye Jiangbai said with a crooked smile. "Aren't you tempted?"

Xiang Ci rose, the sound of her jade accessories tinkling softly as her face glowed like porcelain.

"I always believed that there are predestined relationships in this world, but most people never encounter theirs. Thus, they settle for second best," she explained. "But there are also a few fortunate ones who do meet their match."

"When you do meet them, you'll realize that no matter how many good men there are in this world or how much others dote on you, none can compare," she continued earnestly, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Nothing can truly replace them."

Ye Jiangbai was taken aback.

He had merely come to ensure nothing would go wrong tomorrow, but her words unexpectedly stirred something within him, making his hands clench involuntarily.

"Nothing can replace them?" His eyes darkened with a hint of hostility. "If that person were to hurt and deceive you, leaving you with an irreconcilable grudge, would you still be unable to forget them?"

How could Xiang Ci know whom he was referring to? Assuming that the Duke didn't believe her, she pursed her lips and replied, "If you're lucky enough to meet such a person, wouldn't you find out for yourself?"

Ye Jiangbai frowned.

After this midnight awakening, he saw the same person in his dreams. He already knew the answer, but he refused to acknowledge it, no matter what.

"I'll send someone to meet you tomorrow," he said, turning around. "When you see the token, follow that person."

"Alright." Xiang Ci nodded and lifted the wooden basin, heading back to the camp.

Ye Jiangbai returned to his tent with a stern expression. After sitting in silence for a long while, he realized he had forgotten to mention what the token was, and Xiang Ci hadn't asked either.

Frowning, he decided to let Liang Ce personally go to fetch her the next day.

On the second day of the crown prince's illness, the army outside the city resumed their assault. Chang Nian couldn't even ascend the city walls; Beitang Miao had bound him and sent him back to the palace.

"Let me go!" Zhao Chang Nian panicked. "If I'm not here, the city gates will fall even faster!"

"The gates will fall regardless," Beitang Miao replied calmly. "We can't take the risk."

Chang Nian bit his lip, filled with a myriad of unwillingness. His hands clenched tightly into his sleeves.

As Beitang Miao turned to lead his men in defending the city, Chang Nian rose and headed for Ye's residence with her own troops.

Ever since they had found this place, Chang Nian had kept it under strict guard. None of the two hundred Ye family members had left the estate. Now that the eastern gate was about to fall, she sent word to Ye Jiangbai that he would surely send someone here.

But when would they arrive? Chang Nian frowned deeply.

With a dull thud, the eastern gate swung open, allowing the enemy forces to pour in. Beitang Miao had already prepared for urban warfare, and a new round of fighting ensued. Less than an hour after the breach, the crown prince, Zhao Funing, had the late emperor's coffin carried into the capital, straight to the palace.

"Your Highness!"

Lost in thought at the entrance of the Ye residence, Chang Nian saw Feng Jingxian rush over with a deathly pale face. He fell to his knees the moment he spotted her.

"What's wrong?" Chang Nian hurried to help him up. "Has the city fallen? There's no need to panic like this. Get up first."

Kneeling there, Feng Jingxian dared not move, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Your Highness, the late emperor's coffin... It's outside the palace gates."

Chang Nian was stunned.

With the late emperor's coffin leading the way, anyone who dared to act against it would be defying the imperial will. That was precisely why Zhao Funing had issued a self-censure edict on behalf of his father and even went so far as to exhume the royal mausoleum.

Shaking with anger, Chang Nian gritted her teeth and declared, "Follow me to the palace gates!"

"Your Highness, there are many enemy soldiers over there..." Feng Jingxian was eager to advise, but when she saw the determined look in Princess Chang Nian's eyes, she swallowed the rest of her words.

With only two hundred soldiers by her side, Chang Nian walked fearlessly as if she had an army of twenty thousand behind her. They encountered a group of enemies at a street corner and engaged in a battle before continuing on their way.

The Ye family's residence was located deep within a labyrinth of alleys, requiring them to turn several corners and pass through multiple alleyways. As Chang Nian hurried along, she was just about to exit when she heard the crisp sound of jade clashing against jade.

She paused, stopping in her tracks.

Long ago, Chang Nian had given Ye Jiangbai a white jade pendant using all the money she had at that time. In a fit of rage, Ye Jiangbai had broken it. Eventually, the couple reconciled, and without a word, Ye Jiangbai crafted the shattered jade into two exquisite jade pendants that he hung from his waist, creating a delightful melody wherever he went.

Looking up, Chang Nian indeed saw Ye Jiangbai standing outside, dressed in luxurious robes with a casual expression.

"What a coincidence," he said. "Your Highness is also here."

Feng Jingxian tensed, immediately stepping back and whispering instructions to prepare for protection. However, Chang Nian remained unafraid, standing tall and looking straight at him. "Duke Guo already knew I would be here. There's no need for such formalities," she replied.

Ye Jiangbai narrowed his eyes slightly.

Indeed, he had expected her to be waiting here, which was why he couldn't wait to come this way as soon as he entered the city, eager to see her humiliated state to alleviate his anger.

But... when he actually saw her, he realized that his heart wasn't any lighter.

Chang Nian was a woman who had been forced to establish herself in this chaotic world. She likely hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time. Dark circles marred her eyes, and her complexion was pale. Standing before him, she looked as fragile as paper, ready to be swept away by any passing breeze.

Ye Jiangbai's expression darkened.

In their standoff, Ye Jiangbai clearly had more people on his side. If a fight were to break out, Chang Nian would undoubtedly suffer the greater loss, especially since she still had people guarding the Ye residence.

"Shall we begin?" Chang Nian asked. "If Duke Guo doesn't make a move, I'll be on my way."

The general standing behind Ye Jiangbai wondered if the Seventh Prince's brain had malfunctioned. The Duke had come specifically to capture someone; how could he not take action? How could he just let her leave so easily?

"You may go," Ye Jiangbai said.

The general: "..."

As if she had predicted this, Chang Nian laughed coldly and waved at her people. "Keep moving forward, to the palace gates."

Feng Jingxian's eyes widened in astonishment as she led the way out, glancing sideways to see that the prince had also turned and was leaving with them.

Yet, His Highness seemed lost in thought, and tripped over an uneven stone slab under his foot, nearly losing his balance.

As the guard reached out, someone else nearby reacted even quicker, promptly stabilizing her and then swiftly withdrawing their hand. They couldn't help but scoff, "With such frail health, she still dares to dream of competing with a group of grown men?"

With a flush of shame and anger, Chang Nian bit her lip, clenched her fists, and left without a word.

"Duke of the Nation!" the deputy general was truly perplexed. "With Prince Seventh in our grasp, we would have the upper hand in the situation. How can we possibly let him go?"

Ye Jiangbai pointed irritably to the alley, "Her hands hold the lives of my entire family. If you harm her, you'll have to pay with your life."

The deputy general paused, finding the logic compelling, and thus fell silent.

With his men in tow, Ye Jiangbai followed closely behind Zhao Changnian. He knew where she was headed and what she intended to do.

Outside the main palace gates, the crowd was immense, voices clamoring amidst occasional clashes of weapons. Changnian, leading her people, forcefully forged a path through, barely catching a glimpse of the late emperor's coffin.