Chapter 76 Encountering the Absurd

Qi Sian pondered for a moment and then chuckled, "If you go to see the Emperor, there are only two possible outcomes. One is that the Emperor is greatly pleased and rewards you handsomely; the other is that the Emperor is enraged and you lose your head. Are you really willing to take that risk?"

"Perhaps there's another way. I could expose you, and then it would be a matter between you and your father," Pan Yueqing said after hearing Qi Sian's words. She couldn't help but smile and as expected saw Qi Sian's face turn pale. Pan Yueqing showed a triumphant smile as if her prank had succeeded. She stretched out her hand and quietly looked at the red nail polish on her hand in the moonlight. Then she rested her chin in her hand and looked out the window leisurely. "Perhaps... although it's a bit risky, I think we can wait. I have a hunch that this news isn't true."

"You don't understand the Long Night," Qi Sian rubbed his forehead, looking a bit headache.

As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Yueqing interrupted, "It's you who don't understand people's hearts. When you first guessed that the mastermind behind all this was the Emperor, to be honest, wasn't your heart in turmoil? You were算计 by your own father. But what if all of this was someone's attempt to sow discord between you and your father?" Pan Yueqing paused slightly. In the quiet night, her deliberately lowered voice was extremely persuasive.

"For example, what if it was Prince Fu?"

Qi Sian and Prince Fu had always been at odds, and Pan Yueqing was completely certain of this. Moreover, she even suspected that the person who successfully assassinated Qi Sian in his previous life was probably Prince Fu, because Qi Sicheng didn't have the ability to do so.

"For now, don't act rashly. And don't go to Shangbei Fang during this period," Qi Sian gradually calmed down. His eyes slightly narrowed, and he had to admit that Pan Yueqing was right. He had placed too much trust in the intelligence from the Long Night Underground Palace. But today wasn't a complete waste either. At least he knew the attitude of the major aristocratic families towards the imperial examination candidates entering the capital this time, and indirectly caught a glimpse of the Emperor's attitude towards these families.

If these high - and - mighty aristocratic families started to court the newly promoted candidates, it could only prove that the Emperor's affectionate attitude towards them was gradually fading.

Lord Hong was right. The era of the aristocratic families' monopoly would surely pass, but it couldn't disappear immediately.

The reason why Prince Fu was so arrogant was that he was not only the Emperor's younger brother but also had the support of the powerful aristocratic families in various prefectures in Jiangnan. At the thought of Prince Fu, Qi Sian couldn't help but picture his unpredictable gaze in his mind. The carriage slowly stopped in the alley outside the Pan Mansion. It was already past midnight, and Pan Yueqing sneaked in through the second side - gate.

Just as she poked her head out in the backyard of the Pan Mansion, she heard low gasps coming from in front of the rockery. Pan Yueqing instinctively stopped in her tracks. Suddenly, Qi Sian behind her covered her mouth with his hand and pulled her into a bush.

By the moonlight, Pan Yueqing saw through the branches of the bush that there was a carpet laid out in front of the rockery. Qi Sian instinctively turned his head away and whispered, "Don't look..."

"Wait a moment..." Pan Yueqing squinted her eyes slightly.

The man laughed softly a few times and then said, "That's enough for today..."

The woman responded softly twice, then reached out and stroked the man's smooth chest. After sobbing twice, she said in a coquettish and charming voice, "You must help me... I don't want to endure Pan Yueqing's bullying anymore..."

Pan Yueqing heard it clearly. It was actually Yao Zhen and Pan Miaoqian!

"Don't worry, I will definitely help you," Yao Zhen raised his arm and put it around Pan Miaoqian's back, with a hearty and pitying smile on his face. "You can rest assured. As long as you let her go to the polo match, I can make her lose her reputation."

"That would be great..." Pan Miaoqian sniffled coquettishly and smiled through her tears.

Pan Yueqing thought it was extremely ridiculous. She knew that Pan Yingqian had been on guard against the "little foxes" in the courtyard all her life, but she had never expected Pan Miaoqian. But she didn't expect that they had already... At this moment, she shook her head slightly and motioned for Qi Sian to let go of her. After the two of them packed up and left, Qi Sian sat up and smiled meaningfully, "She really hates you. In order to play tricks on you, she doesn't care about her reputation anymore."

"As soon as she cries, who would believe that she's not an innocent woman?" Pan Yueqing gave Qi Sian a look. "You can leave now. I'm going to bed."

"I'll see you back," Qi Sian said without room for doubt. As expected, he saw Pan Yueqing frowning, but he didn't show any sign of giving in. He instinctively reached out to hold Pan Yueqing's hand, but his hand froze in mid - air. His fingers curled into his palm again, and he smiled, "I'm responsible for you from start to finish. I have to see you enter your room."

"..." The reason was extremely far - fetched. Pan Yueqing commented silently in her heart.

Ignoring Qi Sian's insistence, she turned around and said nothing. She carefully avoided the maids and servants on night duty and slowly opened the door of the Dongfeng Pavilion. Then she made a "go away quickly" gesture to Qi Sian standing outside the courtyard and closed the door. When she turned around, she saw Gu Pan sleeping with her head on the table. She lit a candle and saw that on the paper beside Gu Pan's hand was written, "Miss, don't worry. There's nothing wrong tonight."

Her heart warmed inexplicably. She gently reached out to pick up Gu Pan, but as soon as she touched her, Gu Pan, who usually slept lightly, woke up. She looked up at Pan Yueqing in a night suit and was about to faint. Fortunately, Pan Yueqing supported her. After recovering, Gu Pan looked at Pan Yueqing with tears in her eyes and said, "Miss, why did you leave without saying a word? Fortunately, I found out first. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened..."

"It's all right now. Come and sleep with me?" Pan Yueqing looked at Gu Pan's anxious tears and felt a bit guilty for a moment. She smiled apologetically at Gu Pan.

Gu Pan originally wanted to refuse, but Pan Yueqing didn't give her a chance to refuse. She pulled Gu Pan to her bed, covered them with the quilt, and held Gu Pan's cold hand. She whispered, "I had a discovery today."

"What discovery?" Gu Pan watched as Pan Yueqing blew out the candle and then hid under the quilt as if whispering secrets. She was unconsciously attracted by her mysterious appearance and asked eagerly, "Miss, don't tease this maidservant. Tell me quickly, tell me quickly."

"I saw Pan Miaoqian and Yao Zhen today..." Pan Yueqing briefly told Gu Pan what she had seen and heard. Gu Pan didn't reply for a long time. Pan Yueqing nudged Gu Pan, and Gu Pan finally came out of her daze. "Miss, don't go to that polo match, okay?"

"I'm going," Pan Yueqing said almost without hesitation. Before Gu Pan could get anxious, she smiled and said, "The Eldest Madam will also go that day. There's something I must discuss with the Eldest Madam."