Chapter 55: Hidden Motives Behind Separate Camps

The matter of Xia Mingxuan teasing Princess Anya quickly became the talk of the entire capital. Many were shocked—after all, the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s residence was a young general with boundless prospects. How could he have committed the crime of kidnapping and harassing a princess? The city buzzed with endless discussion.

While Xia Jiujang and Jiang Beiying were meeting, the Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye, arrived at Yong'an Palace to see Princess Anya.

There was little rapport between Princess Anya and Jun Qianye; she hadn’t expected his visit to be prompted by the incident concerning Xia Mingxuan. Though surprised, her expression changed dramatically when she heard what Jun Qianye had to say.

Princess Anya was furious. She stood abruptly and declared, "If Seventh Brother simply wishes to chat with his younger sister, I am glad to welcome him to Yong'an Palace. But if he is here to trouble me, I must ask him to leave, and I won’t see him off."

Jun Qianye knew Princess Anya was not easily dealt with. He replied, "If you turn me away simply because I came for Xia Mingxuan’s sake, you’re falling right into the hands of the schemers. The true culprit will be laughing at us from behind the scenes."

His words gave Princess Anya pause for several seconds. "What do you mean, Seventh Brother? What culprit? Xia Mingxuan is already in prison for what he did to me. Is this excuse to save him not ridiculous?"

Jun Qianye pressed on, "May I ask why you were wearing Xia Jiujang’s clothes, staying in the room reserved under her name at the eastern wing of the Dali State Temple?"

Princess Anya, annoyed, retorted, "I… What are you implying? I see no culprit here, just you coming to reprimand me."

Jun Qianye continued incisively, "Did you think King Jin would visit the Dali State Temple, and that’s why you dressed as Xia Jiujang and stayed in her room?"

Princess Anya blurted out, "How did you know?"

She was indeed easy to read. Jun Qianye had found it odd that she captured Xia Mingxuan; after investigating, he discovered that Xia Mingxuan had actually used Black Three to target Xia Jiujang. How had it turned into a kidnapping and harassment of Princess Anya?

It was clear now why Princess Anya had changed into Xia Jiujang’s attire and stayed in her room.

Jun Qianye explained, "So you’ve got the wrong person. The one who used you is not Xia Mingxuan. He was after Xia Jiujang from the start. He conspired with Black Three to kidnap her, not you. There is no intersection between Xia Mingxuan and yourself—why would he target you?"

Princess Anya was stunned for several seconds. "What do you mean… Wasn’t Xia Mingxuan approaching me because I am a princess, to destroy my reputation?"

Jun Qianye replied directly, "Xia Mingxuan is a young general; he would not use such tactics to get close to you. His target is Xia Jiujang. You must have heard that the Prime Minister’s residence has been troubled lately."

Princess Anya’s brow furrowed tightly.

Jun Qianye went on, "Aunt Wei was expelled from the house; Xia Chan was sent to a nunnery—all connected to Xia Jiujang. Xia Mingxuan was aiming at her, but you ended up being used by Xia Jiujang and became her substitute."

Princess Anya still protested indignantly, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could Xia Jiujang use me… I was supposed to use her!" She insisted it was she who used Xia Jiujang to get close to King Jin.

Jun Qianye reminded her, "But King Jin had no intention of visiting the Dali State Temple. He only rushed there this morning because an assassin was found in the palace yesterday. Someone made you believe King Jin would appear at the temple, prompting you to seek out Xia Jiujang, change clothes, and stay in her room. Who do you suppose that someone was?"

The original plan was to kidnap Xia Jiujang, but because Princess Anya proactively changed clothes and stayed in Xia Jiujang’s room, she became the one who was kidnapped.

Princess Anya was aghast. "So… Xia Jiujang knew Xia Mingxuan was after her, and instead used me?"

Only now did Princess Anya realize the truth.

Jun Qianye said, "So, you see, you made a mistake. The one who used you all along was Xia Jiujang. When you captured Xia Mingxuan, he only then discovered that Black Three had kidnapped the wrong person."

Princess Anya’s eyes widened in shock. "No wonder Black Three, upon seeing me, said I was dreaming of being a princess… He thought I was Xia Jiujang!"

Her reactions were indeed slow, no wonder Xia Jiujang could use her so easily.

Suddenly, Princess Anya grew agitated. She stood up abruptly, and the glass teacup she held slipped from her hand, shattering on the ground. It was a tribute item, precious and rare, yet she discarded it without a thought, revealing the depth of her anger.

Clenching her fists, Princess Anya spat, "That wretch Xia Jiujang—I dignified her by using her, and she dared to use me, employing my hand to deal with Xia Mingxuan. Good, Xia Jiujang, I won’t let you get away with this!"

Jun Qianye smiled slyly. "If you wish to be with King Jin, I can help you."

Princess Anya was surprised. "You’d help me? Just so I release Xia Mingxuan?"

She believed Jun Qianye’s offer was only to have her free Xia Mingxuan. Jun Qianye sneered inwardly; Princess Anya was easy to handle, and if she thought so, he had no reason to contradict her.

Jun Qianye narrowed his eyes and said, "Next month, at the Empress Dowager of the West’s birthday banquet, is the perfect chance for us to act."

Princess Anya eagerly asked, "What plan do you have, Seventh Brother?"

Jun Qianye replied, "As long as you cooperate, I guarantee you’ll get what you want. All I ask is that you release Xia Mingxuan. It’s better to have one more friend than one more foe."

Xia Jiujang had used Princess Anya’s hand to deal with Xia Mingxuan, but Jun Qianye was also using Princess Anya—to bring her and King Jin together, so he could be with Xia Jiujang himself.

The thought of having such a clever woman as Xia Jiujang by his side filled Jun Qianye with secret delight. He wanted her to serve him.

Since Xia Jiujang was the one who schemed against Princess Anya at the Dali State Temple, and Xia Mingxuan sought to harm Xia Jiujang, Princess Anya decided not to hold a grudge. She said, "I’ll instruct my people to release Xia Mingxuan, saying it was all a misunderstanding and Black Three falsely accused him."

Jun Qianye was pleased. "If you help me this much, I thank you here and now. When you become King Jin’s consort, just invite me to your wedding feast."

Hearing this, Princess Anya blushed and smiled shyly, as if her dreams were about to come true.

Jun Qianye had his own plans, and Xia Wentao began to set his own in motion. Xia Mingxuan, having been outmaneuvered by Xia Jiujang and imprisoned, would not be left unavenged by Xia Wentao.

Though Jun Qianye had repeatedly warned the Xia family not to harm Xia Jiujang, Xia Wentao believed his caution was merely to prevent underestimating her. But what if Xia Wentao used someone else?

After Aunt Wei was beaten and expelled from the Xia family, Lin Baixue seized the opportunity to deliver the final blow. Lin Baixue, having contended with Aunt Wei for years, would not let her rival escape so easily. On the day Aunt Wei was cast out, Lin Baixue arranged for her to be silenced forever.

After Aunt Wei’s death, Minister Wei felt humiliated; he didn’t even claim her body, instead ordering it dumped in the countryside to avoid disgracing the Wei family’s name.

Xia Wentao made a special visit to Minister Wei, saying, "This is the olive branch extended to you by the Seventh Prince. If you help him deal with Xia Jiujang, his door will be open to you, and you’ll share in future glory."

Xia Wentao intended to use Minister Wei’s hand against Xia Jiujang; if successful, all the better. If not… it would be Minister Wei’s problem.

It was a rare opportunity: Xia Jiujang had already caused the Wei family to lose face because of Aunt Wei. Now was the perfect chance to take revenge and also gain favor with the Seventh Prince—a win-win situation.

Minister Wei replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Prime Minister. I will certainly present Xia Jiujang with a fine gift at the Empress Dowager of the West’s birthday banquet."

At this grand banquet, every person had their own plans and schemes. But when those plans collided, who could say what kind of scene would unfold?