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Chapter 2556 The Princess of a Fallen Kingdom

Lin'an Town remains the same as always, with its narrow streets and alleys brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

Yu Qianqian's Yixianglou restaurant remained open as usual, and business was still booming, enough to ensure that she and her son had no worries about food and clothing.

Recently, people in town have been talking about the change of dynasty. They say the new dynasty is called Dayong, the emperor's surname is Su, and the reign title is Minxing. All the royal family members of the previous dynasty have been killed.

Yu Qianqian sat behind the counter, holding an account book in her hand, but she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

As she listened to the guests' chatter, her mind was in turmoil.

"Have you heard? The Qi royal family, over a thousand members, were all killed by that Emperor Su, not a single one left alive," a businessman-looking man said in a low voice.

“That’s right! They didn’t even spare children as young as a few years old. That Emperor Su is truly ruthless,” another person chimed in.

"What's so ruthless about him? Which of the previous emperors wasn't ruthless? They were more vicious than anyone else when it came to killing ordinary people. Although this Emperor Su killed the royal family of the previous dynasty, he was good to the people! He reduced taxes and distributed land, and our lives are much better than before."

"That's true! We won't have to worry about being exploited by those corrupt officials anymore."

The group chatted animatedly, each person taking turns speaking.

As Yu Qianqian listened, she gripped the ledger in her hand tighter and tighter.

The entire Qi royal family was wiped out.

What about Qi Yu? Qi Yu is the eldest grandson of the emperor, a member of the Qi imperial family, so he should also be…

Yu Qianqian dared not think any further.

She put down the ledger and got up to walk to the backyard.

The backyard wasn't big, with a few pomegranate trees and a swing under them, which she had someone make last year.

A little boy of seven or eight years old was sitting on a swing, swinging his legs back and forth, humming an unknown tune.

The boy was exquisitely handsome, with fair skin and a pair of large, bright black eyes that made him look incredibly endearing.

When the boy saw Yu Qianqian approaching, he jumped off the swing, ran over, and hugged her leg. "Mom! Why did you take so long? I've been waiting for you for ages!"

Yu Qianqian squatted down and hugged her son tightly.

Yu Bao'er was so tightly hugged by Yu Qianqian that she could hardly breathe. She struggled for a moment, then pouted and said, "Mom, you're hugging me too tightly. I can't breathe."

Yu Qianqian let go of her hands, cupped her son's little face, and looked at him carefully.

The child's features look exactly like that person's.

The same thick eyebrows, the same deep-set eyes, the same high nose bridge.

Every time Yu Qianqian sees her son's face, she thinks of that person, those sinister eyes, those icy hands, and those nights that haunted her nightmares.

But now, that person should be dead.

The entire Qi royal family was wiped out, and the lineage of Prince Changxin was also completely destroyed. That person could not possibly be alive.

At this moment, Yu Qianqian couldn't quite describe her feelings.

Yu Qianqian truly hated and loathed that person. She hated him for forcing her, for locking her in that gilded cage, and for not treating her like a human being.

But that person is, after all, Bao'er's father.

He died, and Bao'er no longer had a father.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Yu Bao'er reached out her little hand and wiped away the tears from the corner of Yu Qianqian's eyes.

Yu Qianqian then realized that she was crying.

She quickly wiped away her tears and forced a smile, "Mother didn't cry, Mother just got sand in her eyes."

Yu Bao'er tilted her head to look at her mother, clearly not believing her, but she didn't ask any more questions.

The child didn't understand much, but he knew his mother was unhappy, so he obediently leaned against her and didn't say a word.

Holding her son, Yu Qianqian made a silent decision in her heart.

Bao'er's true identity will never be revealed to him in this lifetime.

Bao'er doesn't need to know who her father is, or that she is the son of the eldest grandson of the previous dynasty's emperor.

All Bao'er needs to know is that he is Yu Qianqian's son and the young master of Yixianglou in Lin'an Town.

In this way, Bao'er can live a peaceful life, without being hunted down, without being used, and without suffering the same fate as his father, who was beheaded.

"Bao'er, shall I take you to buy candied hawthorns?" Yu Qianqian stood up and took her son's hand.

"Okay! I want the biggest one!" Yu Bao'er jumped up with joy, completely forgetting what had just happened.

The mother and son walked hand in hand out of the backyard and towards the front hall.

The weight that had been pressing on Yu Qianqian's heart for so long finally lifted.

That lunatic will never bother them again, never appear outside her window in the middle of the night again, and never stare at her with those sinister eyes again.

She and Bao'er can finally live a peaceful life.

What Yu Qianqian didn't know was that someone in the capital was watching her and her son.

……

Since He Jingyuan became the Grand Secretary, he has been extremely busy.

I get up before dawn every day and don't lie down until midnight, with endless official documents to review and countless people to meet.

Ke Hejingyuan never forgot one thing—Qi Yu's son.

Qi Yu was the legitimate son of the Crown Prince of Chengde and the eldest grandson of the Emperor of Dayin.

Qi Yu was chopped into mincemeat by the enraged Suning in Mingzhou, and died a gruesome death. Even his corpse was lost to some wild dog.

But his son is still alive, in Lin'an Town, with a woman named Yu Qianqian.

He Jingyuan had Li Huai'an keep an eye on this matter.

Li Huai'an is now the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, in charge of a group of capable people, and investigating a person is as easy as playing a game for him.

After Li Huai'an returned from Mingzhou, he sent people to Lin'an Town to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of Yu Qianqian and Yu Bao'er.

……

That evening, Li Huai'an arrived at He Jingyuan's residence, entered the study, and closed the door tightly.

"Master, there's news from Lin'an Town," Li Huai'an said to He Jingyuan in a low voice.

He Jingyuan was reviewing official documents and didn't even look up: "Speak."

Li Huai'an took out a secret report from his sleeve and placed it in front of He Jingyuan. "Yu Qianqian is still in Lin'an Town, running that Yixianglou restaurant. Her son, Yu Bao'er, is seven years old this year, and he looks... he looks exactly like Qi Yu."

He Jingyuan put down his pen, picked up the secret report, read it through, and then placed it on the table, tapping his fingers on the table repeatedly. "Confirmed? It really is Qi Yu's child?"

Li Huai'an nodded: "It's confirmed. Yu Qianqian was Qi Yu's concubine back then, forced into marriage by him. Later, Yu Qianqian escaped during the chaos and went to Lin'an Town to live under an assumed name. At that time, she was already pregnant, and gave birth to Yu Bao'er not long after arriving in Lin'an Town. We investigated the elderly people around Yu Qianqian and the midwife who delivered her back then, and they all confirmed it."

He Jingyuan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Does Yu Qianqian know that Qi Yu is dead?"

Li Huai'an said, "She should know by now. Although Lin'an Town is small, it's not isolated from the news. The whole world knows about the change of dynasties, so there's no way she wouldn't know."

He Jingyuan then asked, "What was her reaction?"

Li Huai'an said, "The spies we sent reported that Yu Qianqian has been in a bad mood these past few days, but there's nothing unusual about her. She keeps a very close eye on Yu Bao'er and never lets outsiders have any contact with her alone."

He Jingyuan stood up and paced back and forth in the study.

The boots made a dull thud as they stepped on the floor.

Li Huai'an stood there obediently, waiting for his master to speak.

After walking for a while, He Jingyuan stopped, turned around and looked at Li Huai'an, "Huai'an, what do you think we should do with this Yu Bao'er?"

Li Huai'an thought for a moment, "Master, the Qi royal family has already been purged by His Majesty, not a single one was spared. Yu Bao'er is Qi Yu's son and the grandson of the Crown Prince of Chengde, so logically... he shouldn't be spared either. If we don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring. If someone uses him to rebel in the future, that would be a huge problem."

He Jingyuan didn't speak and continued pacing.

Li Huai'an then said, "How about I send someone to Lin'an Town to bring them back, mother and child..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

He Jingyuan stopped and looked at Li Huai'an for a long while before shaking his head. "No."

Li Huai'an was taken aback: "Master, why? This could cause problems later!"

He Jingyuan walked back to the table and sat down. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Huai'an, it's such a waste to play such a good hand like this."

Li Huai'an remained silent, waiting for his master to continue.

He Jingyuan put down his teacup and continued, "His Majesty is at peace with us now, but that doesn't mean he won't purge us in the future. After all, we are at his mercy. If His Majesty ever decides to discard us after we've served our purpose, we need to have a trump card to stop him."

Li Huai'an's eyes lit up: "Master, you mean... keep Yu Bao'er as our talisman in the future?"

He Jingyuan smiled, neither nodding nor shaking his head, "You think too highly of this orphan! However, however, Yu Bao'er is the last bloodline of the Qi royal family, and we can indeed do a lot around him."

Li Huai'an suddenly realized: "Master is brilliant! Then let's send someone to keep an eye on Yu Bao'er and make sure that she and her child are safe."

He Jingyuan nodded: "Yes. Send someone to Lin'an Town to keep an eye on Yu Qianqian and her son. Don't disturb them, just keep an eye on them secretly. Record everything Yu Qianqian and Yu Bao'er do, who they meet, and where they go."

Li Huai'an nodded, stood up, and took his leave.

He reached the door, then stopped and turned back to ask, "Master, do you think Yu Qianqian knows how important her son's identity is?"

He Jingyuan smiled and said, "Of course she knows. Otherwise, she wouldn't have hidden away in a small place like Lin'an Town, and she wouldn't have kept such a close eye on her son. She's a smart woman; she knows that once Bao'er's identity is exposed, neither she nor her son will survive."

Li Huai'an sighed: "She's a pitiful person. She was forced by Qi Yu to have his child, and now she has to hide all the time."

He Jingyuan sighed and waved his hand: "Go! Send someone to keep a close eye on things, make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Yes!" Li Huai'an accepted the order and went out.

He Jingyuan sat alone in his study, picked up the secret report, and read it again.

Yu Bao'er, seven years old, mother Yu Qianqian, currently lives in Yixianglou, Lin'an Town.

He folded the secret report, put it in the drawer, and locked it.

He Jingyuan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the moon in the sky, and pondered what would happen in the future.

Although the previous dynasty has fallen, there are still many troubles in the world.

The Northern Jurchens still exist, as do the bandits and outlaws in various places, and the remnants of the previous dynasty who hide in the shadows.

As the Grand Secretary, he has a heavy responsibility and dares not relax for a moment.

At the same time, we must always be wary of Suning's tendency to discard us after we've served our purpose, because once Suning takes action, they will not give them any chance to resist.

……

In Lin'an Town, Yu Qianqian was holding Yu Bao'er, sitting under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard.

Yu Bao'er was already asleep, her little face was rosy, and there was a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.

Looking at her daughter's sleeping face, Yu Qianqian felt a mix of emotions.

Unbeknownst to her, in the alley opposite Yixianglou, a dark figure was standing in the shadows, staring at her window.

Those were spies sent by Li Huai'an, who had already appeared in Lin'an Town.

My daily task is to keep an eye on Yu Qianqian and her son, to see who they meet, where they go, and what they say.

The dark figure stood in the alley for a while, then turned and disappeared into the night.

Yu Qianqian held her son and gently hummed a lullaby.

She was unaware of the approaching danger, nor did she know that her son had been targeted by the new dynasty's chief minister.

All she knew was that she had to protect Bao'er, ensure Bao'er grew up safely, and keep Bao'er from ever knowing her true identity.

She would take this secret to her grave.

But secrets are like seeds buried in the soil; the more you try to suppress them, the more they grow.

One day, it will break through the soil and grow into a big tree, unstoppable.

Yu Qianqian didn't know when this day would come, nor did she know what would happen when it did.

All she knew was that every moment now, she had to hold her son tightly and not let anyone take him away.

Yu Qianqian lowered her head and gently kissed her son's forehead. A tear slid down her cheek and landed on her son's little face.

Yu Bao'er frowned slightly in her sleep, then relaxed, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, as if she were having a sweet dream.

……

Wei Changyu has been preoccupied lately. She has been empress for almost two years, but her belly remains empty.

One group of imperial physicians came after another, and they all said that there was nothing wrong with her health and that she should not worry.

But the more she said that, the more anxious she became.

That evening, after reviewing the memorials, Su Ning returned to his palace and saw Wei Changyu sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought.

"Changyu, what's wrong?" Su Ning walked over and sat down next to her.

Wei Changyu snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "It's nothing! I'm just a little tired."

Su Ning looked at Wei Changyu and knew she wasn't telling the truth.

I've been too busy these past two years. I get up before dawn every day and don't get to rest until midnight, so I have very little time to spend with Wei Changyu.

I know Wei Changyu is suffering, but there's nothing I can do about it.

The country has just been stabilized, and everything needs to be rebuilt. I cannot abandon it.

"Did the imperial physician say something to you again?" Su Ning asked.

Wei Changyu shook her head. "The imperial physician said I'm fine. But I just... just can't conceive. Your Majesty, am I unworthy of the Empress's position?"

Su Ning frowned and pulled her into his arms. "What nonsense are you talking about? You are my lawfully wedded empress. What's this talk of being unlucky or unlucky? If you can't get pregnant, you can't get pregnant. What's the rush?"

Wei Changyu leaned against his chest and said in a muffled voice, "But Your Majesty is the emperor, and cannot be without an heir. If I cannot bear children, the ministers in the court will surely gossip. Then they will force Your Majesty to choose a concubine, and I..."

Su Ning interrupted her: "Let whoever wants to say it say it, I won't listen."

Wei Changyu remained silent, but the weight on his heart still wouldn't lift.

That evening, Su Ning once again favored Wei Changyu, reassuring her not to overthink things and promising to spend more time with her in the future.

……

A few days later, Wei Changyu invited Meng Lihua into the palace.

The mother and daughter sat in the Imperial Garden and talked for most of the day.

"Mother, I want to arrange for His Majesty to take a concubine." Wei Changyu got straight to the point.

Meng Lihua was stunned for a moment, then put down her teacup. "Yu'er, what nonsense are you talking about? What kind of empress would take the initiative to find concubines for the emperor?"

Wei Changyu gave a bitter smile: "Mother, I am the Empress, but I am also a woman. It is a fact that I cannot have children. His Majesty is good to me and does not blame me, but I cannot occupy the position and not let others in. The ministers in the court may not say it, but they are all grumbling in their hearts. Rather than waiting for them to force His Majesty to choose a concubine, I would rather take the initiative to arrange it myself. At least I can choose some of the people who come in that I find pleasing to the eye."

Meng Lihua remained silent for a long while, then sighed, "Have you thought it through? You won't regret it?"

Wei Changyu nodded: "I've thought it through. I am the Empress, and no matter who comes, they can't surpass me. As long as I can give birth to a prince for His Majesty, it will be a blessing for the Great Yong Dynasty, and it will also be a blessing for me."

Meng Lihua looked at her daughter, feeling heartbroken, but she knew her daughter was right.

An emperor cannot be without an heir; this is a matter of utmost importance.

Instead of waiting for others to push people in, it's better to take the initiative yourself.

“Alright! Mother will take care of it for you.” Meng Lihua held her daughter’s hand. “Don’t worry, no matter who comes, you will be the Empress, and no one can take your place.”

……

When the news spread, the world was shaken.

The empress is choosing consorts for the emperor; this is a matter of great importance to the entire nation.

Officials from all over the country sent portraits of their daughters to the capital. For a time, the painters in the capital were so busy that they were constantly painting portraits, until their hands cramped.

The selection of concubines was handled jointly by Meng Lihua and Wei Changyu.

First, look at the portraits, select a group of people with decent appearances, and then summon them to the capital for a personal inspection.

Round after round of screening, until finally ten remained, living in the palace, awaiting their final audience.

Among the ten women to be selected, one named Su Wanqing attracted particular attention.

Su Wanqing is nineteen years old this year and is extremely beautiful.

It's not the kind of delicate beauty, but the kind of beauty that you can't forget after just one look.

He had a heroic air about him, and he walked with a graceful and poised gait.

The matrons in charge of selecting the concubines all had a very good impression of Su Wanqing, saying that she was well-educated, had proper manners, and was clearly from a wealthy family.

But no one knew that this Su Wanqing was actually Princess Qi Shu of the former dynasty.

Qi Shu was the daughter of Consort An, the younger sister of Emperor Qi Shun (Qi Sheng), and the aunt of Prince Qi Min.

When the rebel army breached the imperial city, the previous dynasty's royal family tried many methods to send Qi Shu out of the palace.

Moreover, Gongsun Jin was waiting for her outside the palace, and the two of them escaped together.

Gongsun Jin is the headmaster of Hejian Academy and has always secretly loved Qi Shu.

Qi Shu also had feelings for him, and the two were in love. After escaping the capital, they could have lived in seclusion in the mountains, hiding their identities and going about their lives.

But Qi Shu was unwilling to give up.

Because she could not forget the shouts of battle in the imperial city that night, could not forget her relatives lying in pools of blood, and could not forget the tragic scene of thousands of members of the Qi royal family being massacred.

Her brother died, her nephew died, all her relatives died.

Although she survived, she felt she shouldn't have survived.

Gongsun Jin earnestly advised Qi Shu: "Princess, let bygones be bygones! The new dynasty has been established, and the world is at peace. Wouldn't it be better to find a secluded place and live a peaceful life?"

Qi Shu shook her head: "No. My surname is Qi, and I am a member of the Qi family. The blood feud of the Qi family cannot go unavenged."

Gongsun Jin became anxious: "How are you going to report this? Su Ning is now the emperor, holding the power of the entire army, as well as those elusive black-armored cavalry. How can you, a woman, possibly report this?"

Qi Shu didn't speak. She knew Gongsun Jin was right. How could a weak woman like her take revenge?

But Qi Shu felt unwilling to give up without trying.

……

Well, here comes the opportunity.

When the news of the empress choosing a concubine for the emperor spread throughout the land, she was making a living washing clothes for someone in a small town.

Upon hearing this news, the mallet in his hand fell to the ground with a thud, and his eyes lit up.

Gongsun Jin could tell what Qi Shu was thinking just by looking at her expression.

He grabbed Qi Shu's arm, his face flushed with anxiety: "Princess, you can't go! That's a den of dragons and tigers; if you go, you'll never come back!"

Qi Shu pried Gongsun Jin's hand away and said calmly, "I have no intention of coming back."

"..." Gongsun Jin was stunned.

Qi Shu looked at Gongsun Jin with a complicated expression.

She knew this man was good to her; if it weren't for his protection all these years, she would have died long ago.

But she is the daughter of the Qi family; she cannot only think about her own survival.

"Gongsun Jin, you should leave! Find a good girl, settle down and live a good life. Don't wait for me."

Gongsun Jin's eyes reddened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I won't leave. Wherever you go, I'll go."

Qi Shu shook her head: "You can't go. If I go alone and die, so be it. If you go and get recognized, we'll both die. If you live, at least you can collect my body."

Before Gongsun Jin could say anything more, Qi Shu had already turned and left.

After taking two steps, Qi Shu stopped again. Without turning around, she only said, "Gongsun Jin, I owe you in this life, and I'll repay you in the next."

After saying that, she left without looking back.

……

Qi Shu changed her appearance and took the alias Su Wanqing to participate in the selection of imperial concubines.

Her identity document was made by someone arranged by Gongsun Jin; it was flawless and no flaws could be found.

Although Qi Shu was exceptionally beautiful, few people from the previous dynasty had seen her. Most of the old people in the palace were dead, and those who were still alive did not recognize her.

Soon, Qi Shu passed the preliminary selection and then the second selection, overcoming all obstacles to become one of the final ten candidates.

The night she moved into the palace, Qi Shu lay in bed, staring at the canopy above her head, and didn't sleep a wink.

I recalled the day the capital was breached, the loved ones lying in pools of blood, and my nephew Qi Min.

Although Qi Min was paranoid and crazy, he was a member of the Qi family and her own nephew.

Qi Yu also died, killed by Su Ning's blade. I heard he was chopped into mincemeat by Su Ning.

Qi Shu silently swore in her heart, "Su Ning, you killed my family and wiped out my entire clan. I can't kill you, but I can destroy your family. I will make you taste what it feels like to lose your loved ones."

She touched the small porcelain bottle hidden under her pillow.

It was a bottle of poison, given to her by Gongsun Jin. It was lethal upon contact with blood; a single drop could be fatal.

Actually, her plan was very simple.

Select a concubine, get close to Su Ning, and find an opportunity to poison her.

It would be best if we could poison Su Ning to death, but if we can't, we should at least make him childless.

Qi Shu had no intention of getting out alive; she only wanted revenge.

……

The next morning, Qi Shu got up and washed up.

Looking at her stunning face in the bronze mirror, she saw a beautiful woman with an indescribable coldness hidden in her eyes.

She smiled, concealing her coldness.

From this day forward, she is no longer Qi Shu, nor Princess Gaoyang.

She was Su Wanqing, an ordinary woman from the common people, who came to participate in the selection of imperial concubines.

She wanted everyone to believe that she, Su Wanqing, was just a woman who wanted to climb the social ladder and become a phoenix.

Wei Changyu waited in the palace for these women to be selected.

She met with them one by one, chatted with them one by one, and pondered in her heart who was more suitable to stay by Suning's side.

When Qi Shu walked in, Wei Changyu was taken aback.

This woman was so outstanding. Standing among those ten women, she was the one you could spot at a glance, like a phoenix among a flock of sparrows.

"Your name is Su Wanqing?" Wei Changyu asked.

Qi Shu curtsied and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I am Su Wanqing."

Wei Changyu looked her up and down, then asked, "Where are you from? What does your family do?"

Qi Shu answered each question one by one according to the prepared script.

She said that her parents had died and she was raised by her uncle, who was a businessman who ran a small business.

She spoke flawlessly, her expression natural, revealing not a single flaw.

Wei Changyu nodded and dismissed Qi Shu.

After everyone left, Wei Changyu said to Meng Lihua beside him, "Mother, what do you think of this Su Wanqing?"

Meng Lihua thought for a moment, "She's good-looking and speaks politely, and seems to know her place. It's just that her eyes are too steady, not like a girl from a humble family."

Wei Changyu smiled and said, "Mother, you're overthinking it. What does it matter if we're from a wealthy or small family? As long as the people are good and can have children, that's all that matters."

Meng Lihua didn't say anything more, but she still felt that something was wrong.

This Su Wanqing is too perfect.

Perfect looks, perfect manners, perfect words.

The more perfect it is, the more unreal it seems.

What Meng Lihua didn't know was that this seemingly perfect woman was carrying a bottle of poison and harboring a burning desire for revenge.

Qi Shu stood in this palace, every step she took was a knife's edge, every word she uttered was a lie.

Meanwhile, the master of this palace, the one who killed her entire family, was reviewing memorials in the imperial study, seemingly completely unaware of all of this.

...(End of this chapter)