Quick Transmigration: The Foolish Beauty Saves the World

Chapter 175 The Useless Prince's Power Seizure (53)

Yu An remained silent.

Sometimes, leaving things blank can indeed make people's imaginations run wild. Just like now, without even having to say much, people can conjure up a dramatic love story in their minds.

Yu An lowered his eyes, feeling apologetic to Jingjing and disgusted by the person in front of him using matters of the heart to blackmail her.

But this expression, as seen by the other person, meant that they had "his thoughts had been read," and they couldn't help but sigh.

“Yesterday, that head palace maid consummated her marriage with His Highness. Are you planning to stay by his bedside and hide like this for the rest of your life?”

Upon hearing this, Yu An immediately recalled the furious state he had been in the previous night, and when he looked up again, his eyes were already bloodshot.

"What exactly do you want to say?"

The other person put down his teacup and said unhurriedly, "Actually, it's not that the two of you can't be together, it just depends on whether you have the courage."

Yu An simply glared at the other person.

The other party, however, did not elaborate: "I will leave it at that. You are a smart man and should know that there are people in the world with the surname Jing, but there is not only one person with the surname Jing."

Yu An suddenly stood up, spilling tea that soaked his clothes, but he was completely unaware.

"Please be careful with your words."

Quan Jiu lazily fiddled with the lid of the cup and laughed, "I'm just telling the truth."

"I will take my leave first."

Yu An looked somewhat flustered, but he didn't want to offend Quan Jiu, so he fled the teahouse as if he were running away.

His current state was not entirely an act.

Quan Jiu's statement, "There is not only one person with the surname Jing," really touched a nerve with him.

From the day he was born, he was shrouded in hatred for the Jing family. Time, like oil being cooked in a raging fire, had long since tempered this hatred into something indestructible, constantly tormenting his mortal body, leaving him covered in wounds, yet he remained clear-headed.

His hatred had only recently been diverted by his time with Jingli, but now Quan Jiu was bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about, and Yu An had to exert a lot of effort to suppress the urge to flip the table.

These scoundrels actually want me to kill Jingli and take his place.

Fortunately, Yu An's level of corruption has decreased significantly, enough to maintain his rationality in the face of hatred.

Today he realized that the other party didn't have much useful information; they just wanted to use his supposed "mutual affection" with Jingjing to sow discord and then turn him into a tool for their use.

However, we cannot let our guard down. Quan Jiu's words today were just a prelude; the other party was testing us. We cannot immediately express our opinion, otherwise it will arouse suspicion.

Yu An composed himself and did not shake off the people who followed him out. Instead, he pretended to be lost and dejected, randomly found a tavern, ordered a pot of strong liquor, and drank it by himself.

As darkness fell, Yu An's face was flushed, his expression was dazed, and he appeared to be drunk.

This emotion followed perfectly from his earlier outburst at the teahouse.

The rat that had been following Yu An observed him closely for a while and then reported Yu An's condition to Quan Jiu in detail.

At this moment, in addition to Quan Jiu, the First Prince, his mother Shuo Yue, and the Second Prince's mother Shisan Yue were also present in the tea room.

They had all witnessed Yu An's every move, and now, after hearing the scout's report, they smiled contemptuously.

The eldest prince said, "This guard joined the Third Prince's army with his martial arts skills, but ended up doing the work of a eunuch for several years. He watched helplessly as his beloved was sent into the bed of this immature brat, the Third Prince, without any status or identity. I don't believe he didn't resent it."

According to what they heard, this guard was basically useless to Jing Li, working like a slave for him every day and risking his life at any moment.

Thirteen Moon chuckled: "This person isn't very smart. He's just a good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun. How can he achieve his wishes if we just go along with him?"

Jingli's previous portrayal of a useless character was deeply ingrained in people's minds. After moving into the East Palace, he no longer attended classes with the Fifth Prince and others. The Emperor had also previously prevented him from attending court, so people's impression of him naturally remained unchanged.

When faced with a situation, people tend to project all their darker side onto the "enemy" when they share the same opinion, especially when they share the same enemy.

As for Yu An, this guard, he was their future ally, so they naturally projected their own feelings onto him.

Just like the eldest prince, who hated all healthy people because he was born lame, he believed that Yu An would resent Jing Li because his fate was not in his own hands.

Just like in the 13th month, she felt jealous and resentful of Jingli, who was equally useless but received great favor because of her son's heart condition and intellectual disability.

They felt that Yu An hated Jingli because they were like this themselves, so it was only natural.

Shuoyue held a relatively low position among them, and she felt she should be more cautious, but she dared not say it at the moment. However, she did pass on the message to her people later.

—Keep a close eye on that guard, and don't let the head palace maid get away either.

But she was a step too late.

Yu An was a very astute person. When he sensed that the prying gaze had disappeared, all the bewilderment on his face vanished. He paid the bill with seemingly unsteady steps, and after a few turns, he disappeared into the night.

Upon returning to the palace, Yu An found Jing Li at Lengquan and recounted the day's events to him in detail.

Jingli didn't delay. She first told Jingjing about it, and then used the counterfeit system to adjust her body temperature and initiate a "fever syndrome".

While suffering from fever, Jingli murmured the name of his mother, and immediately a palace servant sent a message to Langyue. Langyue, "filled with worry," rushed to the East Palace.

The imperial physician had finished examining the patient's pulse, prescribed a remedy, and left the Eastern Palace.

Yu An and Jing Jing took over the task of cooling down Jing Li, and sent the other palace servants to the outside.

When Langyue arrived, Jingli used a hallucinogenic card and took out a soundproof paper. The four of them were by Jingli's bedside. Whoever came saw Langyue and the other three looking at Jingli with concern for her condition.

Beneath the illusion lies yet another scene.

Yu An directly revealed the matter of Quan Jiu. Lang Yue was unaware of Jing Li's abilities at first, and her expression immediately changed upon hearing this. It was Jing Li who stopped her.

"Mother, they can't hear us."

After several attempts, Langyue finally confirmed that what Jingli said was true. While she found it unbelievable, she also subtly felt that it made sense.

She had heard from her own people that her son was a god, but at the time she only thought it was because Jingli had done some good deeds outside.

In retrospect, it wasn't entirely unfounded.

With important matters to attend to, Lang Yue could only suppress her doubts and devise a solution in a few words.

In summary, nothing special happened; everything remained the same. It was just a pity for Jingjing, having to have such a "deeply devoted" lover, which damaged her reputation.

Jingjing accepted it well; after all, she had already received even more shocking news yesterday.

Not long after they finished talking, the voice of Eunuch Wan could be heard outside the East Palace.

The emperor has arrived.

Jingli gave Yu An a wink, and Yu An retreated to one side of the bed. At the same time, Jingli removed the props and talismans.

Perhaps it was the bond between mother and child, but the moment the props were removed, Langyue seemed to sense a mysterious feeling as well.

But before she could think it through, the emperor had already entered the Eastern Palace.

Jingli, despite her "illness," tried to get out of bed to pay her respects to the emperor, but was stopped by him.

"How are you feeling now, Li'er? I heard from the imperial physician that you have a fever, but is there anything else that's bothering you?"

Jingli sneered inwardly.

The emperor's health is now only maintained by precious medicinal herbs; otherwise, with the slow-acting poison that 6058 replenishes around him from time to time, he would have been bedridden long ago.

The emperor's concern was genuine, but it didn't concern Jingli herself.

He was probably planning to take action on a chosen day, but unexpectedly Jingli suddenly fell ill today. As his next place to stay, the emperor naturally had to come and check on him personally.

Jingli didn't show any sign of grievance, and said with a pitiful expression, "Thank you, Father Emperor. I just caught a chill. The imperial physician said I'll be fine in a couple of days."

The emperor visibly relaxed and asked with affection, "Will you still be able to accompany me to court tomorrow?"

Jingli nodded weakly, a hint of ambition flashing in his eyes: "Your subject will strive to prove that you are capable of taking on the position of Crown Prince."

The emperor nodded with pleasure.

If Jingli could change the ministers' minds even slightly, he would save himself a lot of trouble after taking possession of the vessel.

"My dear, tomorrow after court, dine with me."

Jingli immediately became more alert, but still nodded obediently.

The emperor gave Jingli some more rewards, and she left the East Palace with Langyue.

After everyone left, Yu An returned to Jing Li's bedside. Jing Jing consciously stepped aside, pretending to be busy with other things.

Jingli understood Yu An's meaning, and took out the talisman paper whose energy had not yet been exhausted. Then he heard Yu An ask:

"Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?"

Jingli knew he was concerned about her fever, so she shook her head and said, "I've already told you, I have a good fortune, it's just that I have a fever, I don't feel uncomfortable at all."

Yu An continued to wipe his forehead and neck, then asked, "Is it alright for Her Majesty to know about this?"

He wasn't jealous that this secret, which originally belonged only to the two of them, had been made public; he was genuinely worried.

In Yu An's mind, Jing Li was like a celestial being descended to earth.

He can accept this statement, but Lang Yue may not be able to, after all, Jing Li was born after Lang Yue carried her for ten months and raised her from a young age.

If Langyue cannot accept such a major change, the mother and son may become estranged.

Jingli was aware of the risks involved, but he also had his own considerations. He held Yu An's hand, which was resting on his face, and let Yu An's palm touch his still slightly feverish face.

“Mother is not unaware. She already knew what I did outside the city. Even putting that aside, her son, who is completely useless in both literature and martial arts, suddenly survived a bear's jaws unscathed and even seemed to have suddenly gained intelligence. Do you think Her Majesty might have any reservations?”

Yu An remained silent, the heat in his palms causing him to sweat slightly.

"Also, do you remember the secret passage to the Gui Palace that I took you to for the first time?"

Yu An nodded.

“My mother also knows about this, and I have admitted that I went there. So how did I manage to avoid all the palace servants in the room, and even Jingjing? My mother is not stupid. She must have some suspicions, but she can't make sense of the clues. And I was just giving her that clue.”

Yu An sighed softly: "Your Highness always has a plan."

These words were full of affection, which pleased Jingli. He said, "Isn't this also for our sake?"

"Us?" Yu An was slightly taken aback, somewhat bewildered.

He had drunk a whole jug of strong liquor today, and after finishing his business, he was warmed by Jingli's body heat, so he felt slightly tipsy.

He sensed a blush on His Highness's face, but he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination or if it was real.

Jingli found the smell of alcohol on Yu An pleasant and laughed, "If I were just my mother's son, and I really sat in that position, it would be inevitable that I would have children and carry on the family line."

Yu An's expression also tightened.

"But what if I really am a so-called god? Wouldn't it be more reasonable for gods not to associate with mortals?"

Yu An whispered, "But I am just an ordinary mortal."

“You’re not.” Jingli denied with a smile, but didn’t elaborate. “You just need to know that in my heart, you are not an ordinary person.”

Yu An didn't argue with him. Before his hand became completely sweaty, he pulled it back and changed Jingli's fever-reducing cotton cloth.

Jingli continued, "You don't really think that our first meeting was because I accidentally stumbled into a group of slaves, do you?"

Yu An was stunned once again.

It had been too long since their first meeting. Yu An only remembered drawing his sword against His Highness, learning their secret code, and obtaining the sachet with His Highness's name on it.

From then on, everything began with hatred, but was dissolved by love, and in the end, the two embarked on the same path.

The once-imagined confrontation is gone; only tenderness remains between them.

Yu An said no more. He saw the golden light around him dissipating, and Jingjing brought over the medicine.

"Your Highness, please take your medicine and get some rest."

Compared to yesterday, Jingjing's attitude towards Jingli has returned to what it was before.

There are differences, though.

The shyness in Jingjing's eyes faded a bit, and the two of them got along more like siblings.

The next day, Jingli, still suffering from a low-grade fever, went to court with the emperor. Listening to the ministers bickering was not an interesting experience; they simply reported on problems from various regions, and most of them could not offer any practical solutions.

Despite being "ill-healthy," Jing Li made a rare mention:

“Father, my study companion, Yuan Lanying, is also a general from a family of generals. Now that the war is critical, perhaps we can follow the example of the late emperor and send another elite force to help us.”

Jingli deliberately made his words simple, as if he were just a show-off who knew nothing, which naturally minimized the purpose behind his words.

Before the emperor could speak, the ministers below began to object.

"General Yuan and Major General Yuan have long been stationed at the border between the northern border and the capital. Your Highness is oblivious to what is happening outside, but you must not discourage the old generals. If we cannot even manage the deployment of troops, how can we stand here anxiously?"

Jingli seemed to choke, and timidly glanced at the emperor.

The emperor did not reject Jingli's idea, but asked, "Yuan's second son has been the crown prince's companion since he was six years old and has been trained in the palace since childhood. What do you think if we let this son lead a troop of soldiers to launch a surprise attack?"

"No!" Elder Yuan immediately retorted, then, as if realizing he had overreacted, quickly knelt down. "Your Majesty is unaware that my little grandson has never truly faced an enemy. He is fine by Your Highness's side, but leading troops against the enemy is no child's play. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."

The emperor replied, "You, sir, have also been to the battlefield. Who in this world is born to fight on the front lines?"

The elder statesman dared not utter a word; it seemed the emperor already had a plan.

It's quite simple. The emperor doesn't care whether Yuan Lanying's surprise attack succeeds. He personally selected this young man from the Yuan family, so he naturally knows his background. Moreover, Yuan Lanying is acquainted with Jing Li, and he'd love to use this opportunity to eliminate Yuan Lanying.

The emperor then asked Jingli, "I've heard that the Crown Prince's personal guard often trains with you and the Yuan family boy?"

Jingli thought to herself: They've arrived.

The emperor actually wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of Yu An, this "potential male favorite".

Jingli respectfully replied, "Yes, Father Emperor."

The emperor's smile remained unchanged: "Then these two will lead a troop of soldiers to the eastern border first. If they win, they will be granted 100,000 troops to support the northern border."

There was an uproar in the court.

Jingli frowned in displeasure: "Father, those are my guards..."

The emperor waved his hand, stopping him from continuing: "I will grant you another one."

And so it was settled.

The emperor seemed eager to leave work, and took Jingli with him to his palace.

Jingli had a vague idea of ​​what was going to happen next, and she clenched her fists, her heart pounding like a drum.