Volume One, Chapter 14: Aunt Tian

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There was no trace of surprise in Yan Beiyuan’s eyes as he calmly placed the tile back in its original position. He reached out to grasp Leng Yueheng’s slender waist, glanced at the drowsy guards below, and swiftly departed.

It was already past midnight, and the guards had noticed nothing unusual.

Returning once more to the shores of the Divine Water Lake, the two stood awkwardly for a moment, reminiscing briefly on their youthful recklessness. Leng Yueheng was somewhat annoyed—the wretched prince neglected his fiancée, causing her persona to collapse on her very first day after crossing over.

Yet, gazing at his tall, aloof silhouette, she felt a pang of sympathy.

A prince by birth, yet cuckolded and rumored to be inadequate in the bedroom—that was a harsh fate indeed.

“Um... Your Highness, please accept my condolences,” Leng Yueheng offered gently.

“Is the nursemaid by your side the one named Zhuang?” Yan Beiyuan replied, unwilling to discuss the matter he had just overheard.

That night, someone had slipped him a note claiming that Nursemaid Zhuang of the Leng household knew the true reason behind the complete extermination of former General Qin Xian’s family.

Duke Qin Xian was the right hand of the late Emperor Jingwen.

Seventeen years ago, on the northern border battlefield, he seized twelve cities in succession but suffered grave injuries. Before he could return to the capital, he succumbed to his wounds.

At that time, the Crown Prince—now Emperor Jingwu—was severely wounded in the same battle, his face disfigured.

Shortly after Jingwu’s ascension, spies from the Black Meng Kingdom slaughtered General Qin’s entire family.

The emperor was grief-stricken and mourned for three days without attending court, posthumously granting Qin the title of Duke.

Prince Ji, then eight years old, sensed something amiss.

Only recently had he learned that several of General Qin’s trusted aides had also perished in various tragic accidents.

Though the court executed a group of Black Meng spies, wiping out all of Qin’s confidants was excessive. If that were truly the work of foreign agents, how secure was the capital?

Moreover, he sensed a mysterious force urging him to investigate the case, as if it were deeply connected to him.

He felt lost. As the sole prince of the Great Jing Dynasty, he had no prior association with General Qin.

Though Qin was dead and left no heirs, and despite the posthumous honor, death is final. Yet, Yan Beiyuan resolved to uncover the truth.

“How do you know this?” Leng Yueheng asked without concealment.

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“I want to see Nursemaid Zhuang,” Yan Beiyuan said calmly.

Though tonight’s discovery suggested that Lady Jiang of the Prime Minister’s residence had learned of his investigation into General Qin’s case and sent someone to fabricate a story leading him to the Leng household—making Nursemaid Zhuang likely a mere decoy—he was unwilling to abandon any clue.

“Do you suspect Nursemaid Zhuang?” Leng Yueheng asked with doubt. “SheI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.