Chapter 99 – You Still Have to Work Hard

Chapter 99 - You Still Have to Work Hard

"Wasn't the Empress Sect not built by your hands alone?"

Under the faint candlelight, Wen Ruan looked at Empress Mu, his eyes clear and bright. "It was Feng Yi, wasn't it?"

Empress Mu was surprised. "Why do you think so?"

Wen Ruan smiled without a word.

He originally thought that Empress Mu was more capable, a significant figure. After all, in past stories, especially thirteen years ago on that night, she displayed a fierce, brave, and ruthless character. But now, something felt off; she seemed more like a puppet being manipulated.

"Feng Yi created the Empress Sect and convinced you to join. As for why he could convince you—it was because of your son, the Third Prince. He wasn't born from you and the Emperor. His true father is Feng Yi, isn't it?"

Even if the Tenth Prince had considered this direction, he was still shocked by Wen Ruan's words.

What audacity... How dare they!

But Empress Mu didn't react strongly. "You're very bold, but don't make baseless accusations about things without evidence."

Wen Ruan insisted on continuing, staring unblinkingly at Empress Mu. "Feng Yi had ulterior motives, coveting the Da Li kingdom long ago. But what did he have? An outsider, limited in both status and wealth—no one would follow him. So, he had to resort to underhanded methods."

"He deliberately approached you, pursued you with deep affection, making you pity him, disregard propriety and danger to be with him... You became pregnant. Perhaps the timing of this child wasn't right, easily exposing the truth if investigated. Or perhaps your imperial favor wasn't as abundant then. In any case, this child's existence was dangerous. You couldn't bear him, or if you did, you couldn't raise him by your side."

"Conveniently, Consort Rou was also pregnant at the time, but her pregnancy wasn't going well... Or maybe you made sure it wouldn't go well, destined for a miscarriage. Consort Rou, weak and desperate for the child to help her rise in status, didn't want anything to happen to the baby. If something had to happen, it might as well be someone else's child... She was already cunning, perhaps hatching a plan to switch the babies, or maybe you fueled her thoughts. In the end, the plan succeeded. She exchanged her stillborn for your son, and due to your 'cooperative efforts' in handling the situation, everything went smoothly."

"So, no one would investigate your child. Even if someone suspected something, they couldn't prove anything since your child was 'dead.' But you knew that your son would grow up under Consort Rou's care... Let me guess: when Consort Rou suffered a hemorrhage during childbirth and could never bear children again, it was your doing? With only the Third Prince as her son, she could pour all her resources into him. After all, the Emperor's favor is fleeting, but a son is a future reliance."

"Consort Rou didn't know what you did behind her back. She believed everything was her own arrangement, stealing your son. Whether she felt guilty toward you is uncertain, but her love for the Third Prince was genuine. Since you were dead, the Third Prince would never know the truth and would only recognize her as his mother. Feng Yi helped you set up this entire scheme, comforting you that it was all for your son's sake, that he would grow up well. Meanwhile, he started the Empress Sect, claiming it would provide you both with a lifeline. If the Third Prince succeeded on his own, reaching a certain position, you would be an additional force. If he couldn't, you would be the absolute power lifting him up. Right?"

"Feng Yi didn't immediately suggest you leave the palace because some developments needed time. He needed information from inside the palace, and it's hard for a palace concubine to leave. It wasn't until thirteen years ago that you finally got your chance."

Not only did Wen Ruan keep his eyes on Empress Mu's expressions while speaking, but the Tenth Prince did too. Judging from her subtle changes in expression, it wasn't difficult to deduce that most of this was likely true.

The Tenth Prince tugged gently on Wen Ruan's clothes from behind, giving him a discreet look: Did you know this already? Did you guess it with Sixth Brother?

Wen Ruan quickly glanced at him: What else?

When Zhu Yan was investigating the Empress Sect, many of his actions were secretive and low-key. The sect was highly vigilant, avoiding risks and setting traps to divert Zhu Yan's attention elsewhere. But Zhu Yan wouldn't fall for such tricks. He pretended to be misled while actually holding onto his leads tightly. The more the Empress Sect tried to hide something, the more determined he was to uncover it. However, he couldn't reveal anything he found to avoid alarming them.

"So, you didn't resist when we captured you, out of curiosity to confirm the details of the past?"

Empress Mu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Unfortunately, knowing won't change anything. It's too late."

Wen Ruan smiled faintly. "But I'm not dead yet, am I? All these years, you've been trying to kill me, but now, you have no intention to. You don't want to use me to threaten Prince Jian anymore? Our marital bond is strong; he can't let me go."

Empress Mu was speechless.

Wen Ruan continued, "Where is Feng Yi now? In the palace? Has he already begun his move? He will inevitably clash with Prince Jian. For convenient communication and coordination, I assume this residence isn't far from them?"

Empress Mu was surprised by his deduction.

"Don't be so surprised," Wen Ruan said calmly. "You haven't revealed any information; my conclusion is purely based on logical inference. You don't need to give me any grand reasons for cooperation. Capturing me wasn't about cooperation; it was using my life to threaten Zhu Yan."

Wen Ruan spoke slowly and deliberately. "Seeing how relaxed you are, able to chat with me, Feng Yi probably hasn't reached the predetermined time yet? This conversation won't go anywhere. Could you please provide us with some food instead? We'll remain cooperative."

Empress Mu was silent.

Wen Ruan didn't wait for her response and began listing dishes. "Three-flavored stew, duck tongue in rice wine, spicy chicken, stir-fried bamboo shoots... Hmm, my younger brother is still growing, recently preferring meat. Braised pork trotters, red-braised pork, roasted lamb chops—serve whatever you like, just make sure there's plenty."

At this moment, the Tenth Prince looked at Wen Ruan with unparalleled admiration.

This was his sister-in-law! She cared so much for him!

And as a captive, she could still demand whatever she wanted, making their captors uncomfortable. His sister-in-law was too strong!

Empress Mu's face was stern. "What if I don't give you anything?"

A captive daring to ask for so much—how dare you dream so big?

"There's nothing I can do then," Wen Ruan shrugged. "I'll have to commit suicide."

The Tenth Prince's pupils constricted. Spit, spit, spit! What are you saying, Sister-in-law! Hurry and spit!

Wen Ruan lovingly patted his younger brother's head. "I'm so worried about my little brother. If I, his sister-in-law, can't even get him a meal, what face do I have to live? I'll die then."

The Tenth Prince panicked. No, not that! If anyone was going to do it, it should be the younger brother, not the sister-in-law!

He almost shouted out loud, but he remembered what his sister-in-law had told him before—the most important thing during negotiations... He couldn't show weakness and give others an opportunity!

Empress Mu was incredulous, her eyebrows twitching. "You're threatening me with your life?"

"You can test if I dare," Wen Ruan smiled. "After all, the urgency is on your side, not mine. If I die, how Prince Jian will go berserk is something you wouldn't want to see, right?"

If it weren't for the great fear of Zhu Yan, the other party wouldn't have needed to set up such a situation.

Wen Ruan's voice was gentle. "It's just a meal, Empress Mu. Why be so stingy?"

Empress Mu's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You're right. My major affairs are about to be accomplished. It's just a meal, no need to argue. After all... you'll still work for me later."

She turned around and left, slamming the door shut.

The Tenth Prince was somewhat dazed. Just... just like that?

He knew his sister-in-law was amazing, having heard many stories about her, but he didn't expect her to dare play such moves. Wasn't it a bit wild... a bit dangerous?

Wen Ruan patted his stunned younger brother's shoulder. "Remember to eat a lot later."

The Tenth Prince: "Huh?"

Wen Ruan smiled faintly. "You still have to work hard after this."

Work? What kind of work?

Wen Ruan: "You'll know after you eat."

The tenth prince was very curious, his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws. He ate like a storm sweeping away the clouds, inhaling his food in a whirlwind, afraid that if he was even a little slow, he would miss out on his sister-in-law's affairs. He disregarded all the etiquette and rules he had learned in the palace.

To say nothing of it, the meat was pretty good, to his taste.

However, Wen Ruan did not immediately make the tenth prince work. Instead, he let the tenth prince sit for a while, walk around the room to digest his meal. As for himself, he picked up a leaf at hand, put it to his lips, and slowly blew a tune.

The Empress Dowager's teaching was indeed elegant and interesting. Empress Mu personally gave the order, not only were the dishes excellent, but the presentation was also exquisite. For example, the edges of the shallow plates of several cold dishes were adorned with freshly picked leaves.

The leaves were not special, they were things that could be seen everywhere in the capital at this time of year, revealing no secrets. But for blowing tunes, they were quite suitable.

Wen Ruan didn't understand the lute, but when he was young in the countryside, he played with leaves often enough. It wasn't exactly music, just something he enjoyed doing, others might find it annoying to listen to.

Feeling that he was bothering others, who didn't want to deal with him anymore, Wen Ruan got up and stood still. He took out a thin, soft, long needle from his hair, casually pinched it, and turned it into a hard weapon, handing it to the tenth prince.

The tenth prince's eyes nearly popped out. This-this-this... when captives were taken and imprisoned, they were certainly searched. Such a delicate thing would definitely not be found! Wait, why did his sister-in-law prepare this thing? Could she have known they would be captured? Known... and still came?

In the next moment, he watched Wen Ruan tear open the part of the sleeve with the wide golden trim, pouring out some powder, wrapping it in cloth, and handing it to him.

Another thing prepared in advance...

There was no need to ask, his sister-in-law knew.

After giving him the items, Wen Ruan pointed to the wall by the window, diagonally to the west: "First, use your full strength to kick that spot. After kicking through and making a hole, immediately hold your breath and scatter the powder outside. If someone avoids the powder attack, shoot them with the steel needle. You will fall into the water, be careful not to choke, but don't be afraid either. Our boat is not far away—remember to catch me."

"Eh?" The tenth prince usually thought of himself as quite smart. After all, the entire palace was his playground. He could play so happily without anyone knowing, and he could guess many plots and schemes almost accurately. But today, here, he had no idea what his sister-in-law was talking about.

What hole? Could this wall really be kicked through? Were there people guarding outside the wall? And what about their boat, how did they have a boat? And falling into the water, he wasn't afraid of water, he could swim, and he wasn't afraid of adventure either. Taught by his sixth brother for so many years, if his skills weren't impressive, he shouldn't be in the game at all. But this-this-this...

Before he could ask, he was already pushed by his sister-in-law. "Start!"

He could only follow along subconsciously.

"Bang—"

The wall was actually broken through? When did he become so strong?

Wait, no, this wasn't a wall, this was the real window. The one beside it was a fake window, intentionally misleading the eye. This was the weakest part of the entire room, his sister-in-law was right!

The tenth prince burst through the window, without much thought, immediately following his sister-in-law's instructions. He took a deep breath, then held it, scattering the powder outside—

Several guards by the window fell down at the sound. One who was surprised to avoid the attack immediately pounced to kill, the tenth prince flicked his wrist, directly using the steel needle as a hidden weapon, piercing through the opponent's skull!

"Splash—"

In an instant, he didn't have time to look around, he really fell into the water. At the same time, he heard the sound of a boat paddling, quickly coming closer.

He didn't forget his sister-in-law's instructions. He swam upstream with both hands, bursting out of the water just in time to see his sister-in-law jump out of the window. He immediately reached out to catch her—

Wen Ruan was pulled by him, not sinking too deep into the water. He quickly adjusted his posture, the two found their target and soon swam to the side of the boat.

The small boat was very agile. Just now, it was concealed among the lotus leaves, hearing the commotion, it quickly turned out, picked up the people, and then swiftly returned, like a flexible fish, leaving beautiful ripples on the water surface, which instantly calmed down, leaving no trace.

The tenth prince was dazed, was it over so quickly?

No, why! Why was there a small boat here, how did it come, could it be so timely, so fast! And what he just experienced, why could Wen Ruan predict everything so accurately! Did she have a third eye?

Wen Ruan smiled faintly, urging him to change his clothes quickly.

Empress Mu and her group were indeed cautious, but many things couldn't be hidden.

He walked around the room, carefully sensing the direction of the airflow. The window that could be seen with the naked eye was lifeless, immovable, and without wind, it only looked like a window. Instead, on the side of this window, slightly further away, if he carefully sensed, he could detect a tiny airflow, very tiny. Others had sealed it very seriously. Even standing in the room and concentrating, one wouldn't feel it. He used tea water to wet his fingers and only then felt something. Therefore, that was the real window. Since it was a window, it naturally broke more easily than a wall.

The weather in the capital these two days was bad, as if it was holding back rain. He wasn't particularly sensitive to other perceptions, but he was very sensitive to moisture. When the first girl entered the room, he smelled a different scent, moisture, with a faint fishy smell, not obvious, difficult for others to detect. But he knew immediately that this was the fishy smell emanating from places similar to rivers and lakes before the rain. Afraid that he was mistaken, he provoked the other party with words, making them send two more people. As expected, both of them had this scent. They must be somewhere near a river or lake.

If others were watching them, there would naturally be surveillance. The tenth prince jumping out of the window would encounter guards, wasn't that a matter of course?

As for the boat that came to pick him up, since he knew he would be captured long ago, he had made preparations in advance. How could he not arrange for this? But the play had to be convincing. The people protecting him couldn't be too close. Even if the Empress Dowager had special means to prevent tracking, they couldn't follow. If contact was cut off, it would be difficult to rendezvous. His countermeasure was to place a special fragrance on himself in advance, something humans couldn't smell, but certain animals could. Even if contact was lost, the people who would come to pick him up would find him. Since he was in the water, the ones coming to pick him up would naturally be a boat.

He could even find such a weak point like the window. What kind of person were the secret guards trained by Zhu Yan? How could they not understand hiding, listening, and judging the best timing and location?

Not to mention, he blew a tune with a leaf.

Thanks to Empress Mu's cooperation, he found such a suitable method. Otherwise, he would have to instruct the tenth prince to mimic a cat's meow. If the tenth prince didn't do it well...

Now wasn't it great, the Empress Dowager couldn't even catch up?

Some did manage to catch up in the panic, but at this moment, Wen Ruan wasn't needed. Although the boat was small, those who came were all elite. Not to mention, there was also the tenth prince. Prince Ten was incredibly brave, kicking one person away with each kick, knocking another away with each punch. His movements were extremely agile, and he even deliberately pretended to fall into the water, tricking five pursuers into the water!

"Come on, don't be a coward, why are you running! Your father is here, hurry up and come over to kowtow!"

Prince Ten was having a great time, his eyes shining with excitement, like a black-bellied cat. Every move he made was vicious, scratching at others' vital points.

Wen Ruan: ...

Where did he learn such street fighting tactics from a novel?

Indeed mischievous.

"Hurry up, over here, over here!"

Young Master Huo was waiting anxiously on the shore, reaching out his hand from afar. "Why are you so slow, I was a bit afraid you'd die in there!"

"There's no way around it, we had to figure out who between Empress Mu and Feng Yi was the one in charge."

Wen Ruan smiled slightly, taking hold of the hand he extended and using it to help him onto the shore.