Chapter 235 -

Chapter 235: Chapter

The Grand Chancellor stared at his daughter in utter silence. For the first time, he saw a bright, fierce fire in Yueqing’s eyes. The little girl who used to cry over tiny things was now standing tall, ready to fight the dangerous Empress.

He looked down at her small hand holding his fingers. Her words hit him hard. She was right. Under a cruel Empress, trying to stay neutral was completely impossible.

The Grand Chancellor let out a long, heavy sigh.

"You have really grown up, Yueqing," he said softly. "I tried to stay out of trouble to protect our family, but doing nothing will only bring us ruin."

He gently patted her hand. "Alright. Tell me, what are you and Wenzhe planning?"

Yueqing’s eyes lit up. She leaned in closer and whispered, "Wenzhe got an official order to send the Third Prince north to guard the border. It looks like a normal job, but it secretly gives the Third Prince a strong army to fight the Empress when she moves."

The Grand Chancellor nodded slowly. "That is smart. But an army in the north cannot stop a sudden attack inside the city."

"That is why I came to you, Father," Yueqing said directly. "We need your power over the court, the food, and the money. When the Empress attacks, she will try to lock down the city and starve everyone to make the Emperor give up. If you hide and protect the city’s food and keep the court ministers united behind the Third Prince, her plan will fail from the inside."

A sharp, clever look returned to the Grand Chancellor’s eyes. "Fighting her from inside and outside the city," he said with a small smile. "Very well. Leave the ministers and the food supplies to me."

Yueqing let out a big breath and smiled brightly. "Thank you, Father!"

"Do not thank me yet," he chuckled softly, lightly pinching her cheek. "Just make sure you and Wenzhe stay safe."

While Yueqing talked with her father, the Xi estate was busy and loud.

The big party was tomorrow night. Maids ran back and forth in the hallways, hanging red lanterns and setting up silk banners in the main hall.

Inside QianQian’s room, bright silk dresses were spread out across the bed and chairs. Duchess Xi had sent over many fine, custom-made dresses for the young girls to choose from.

QianQian sat on the bed, pouting. "Why did Mother send so many dresses?" she grumbled, tossing a pink sleeve aside. "It takes so long to pick one!"

Lanyin held up a soft blue dress against her waist and laughed. "Stop complaining, QianQian! Tomorrow is a huge party, so we must look pretty!"

Gu Yue walked out from behind the curtain with a playful smile. "Besides, many noble young men will be there tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe a certain handsome scholar will be there and fall head over heels in love with you."

Lanyin smiled as she pinched Gu Yue on the arm. "What are you saying?" The two of them laughed, but Qianqian wasn’t having it.

She sighed, slightly shifting the clothes around so she could think properly. Lanyin noticed her sister’s expression. It was unlike Qianqian to be this quiet; something was definitely wrong.

Before Lanyin could say anything, Qianqian turned to both of them and asked a question.

"Lanyin, Gu Yue... I need to ask you guys something."

"What is it?" Gu Yue asked as she and Lanyin focused on her, awaiting the question.

Qianqian hesitated slightly before saying, "Well, you see... I have this friend, and she is in love with someone, but that person isn’t a nobleman or a scholar."

"Is she from a noble family?" Lanyin asked, and Qianqian nodded.

"Yes, she’s from a big noble family... not royalty, but close to it," she responded.

"What about the man? Is he a businessman or a commoner?"

Qianqian shook her head. "No... he’s like a warrior. The point is, she loves him, and he might..." She scratched the back of her head. "...like her back, but he’s scared because he feels he isn’t worthy of her. What do you think? Don’t you think they should be together, despite not being from the same world?"

Lanyin and Gu Yue exchanged a quick, knowing look before turning their attention back to Qianqian.

Gu Yue sat beside her on the bed, leaning in with a thoughtful look. "If you ask me, love doesn’t care about status. But our world... this society? It definitely does. A warrior who isn’t a nobleman will face a lot of backlash trying to stand beside a high lady."

"That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though," Lanyin added gently, placing a hand over Qianqian’s fidgeting fingers. "If the man is brave enough to fight for her, and if your... ’friend’... is willing to brave the harsh words of the court, then why shouldn’t they be together? Real courage isn’t just about wielding a sword on a battlefield, Qianqian. It’s also about standing by the person you love when everyone else tells you not to."

Qianqian stared at her hands, her heart pounding as Lanyin’s words sank in.

Gu Yue smirked playfully, bumping her shoulder against Qianqian’s. "Besides, if this warrior guy is scared because he feels unworthy, it just proves he respects her. A man like that will protect her with his life. So tell your ’friend’ not to give up on him so easily."

Qianqian felt a sudden wave of warmth in her chest, her lips curving into a small, relieved smile. She quickly cleared her throat and looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping up her neck.

"Right... yeah. I’ll definitely pass that along to my friend," Qianqian muttered, pulling a bright red dress toward herself. "Anyway! We should finish picking these clothes, or Mother will send another five crates!"

Lanyin and Gu Yue burst into soft laughter, letting the topic rest for now, though both knew far better than to believe the story about the mysterious "friend."

Later that day, Qianqian wandered toward Wenzhe’s office. She strolled past the corridors, her eyes secretly scanning every corner to see if Dong Yi was standing guard nearby.

Wenzhe was sitting behind his grand desk, deeply buried in official military scrolls. The moment he looked up and saw her lingering near the doorway, he raised an eyebrow and scolded her.

"Qianqian, what are you doing wandering around here?" Wenzhe asked, setting his brush down. "Shouldn’t you be in your room getting some rest for tomorrow’s banquet?"

Qianqian immediately put on a bright smile and ran into the room. She came right up to his desk, picking up his ink stone to help him grind ink just to act like a helpful sister.

"I came to help my favorite brother!" she said cheerfully, grinding the ink with careful, energetic movements. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She hovered near his shoulder for a moment before casually asking, "Wenzhe... when are you going to let Dong Yi get married?"

Wenzhe paused, his hand halting over his paperwork. He raised a brow and turned his head to look at her, clearly puzzled by her sudden curiosity. "Why are you asking such a strange question all of a sudden?"

"Well," Qianqian stammered quickly, keeping her eyes fixed on the ink stone, "Dong Yi has been serving you for so long... surely you will let him settle down one day and have his own family and children, right?"

Wenzhe nodded slowly, picking his brush back up. "Of course. If Dong Yi finds someone he likes, I will gladly let him marry her and build his family. But a man like him is far too stubborn. I honestly wonder if he is even interested in women."

Qianqian’s hands froze on the ink stone. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked up at him. "Why do you say that?"

Wenzhe chuckled, shaking his head at the memory. "Because he ignores every woman who comes near him! A few years ago, when we were stationed in the north, we stopped at a local inn to rest. The innkeeper’s daughter was a remarkably beautiful girl, and it was so obvious she liked him. She kept coming over to our table, bringing him extra wine, making conversation, and practically throwing herself at him."

Qianqian’s eyes widened slightly as she listened, her hands tightening around the edge of the desk. "And what did Dong Yi do?"

"Nothing!" Wenzhe laughed softly, leaning back in his chair. "He just sat there with his usual stone-cold face, drank his tea, and completely ignored her. He didn’t even glance at her once! It was so brutal that I actually felt embarrassed for the poor girl. So you see, I don’t think romance is anywhere on his radar."

Qianqian let out a small breath she didn’t realize she was holding, a tiny smirk touching her lips. "Maybe he just didn’t like her type..." she muttered under her breath.

Wenzhe raised an eyebrow at her. "What did you say?"

"Nothing!" Qianqian immediately said as she made her way towards the door, "I’ll go now.. I have a gown fitting.. byeeee.."