Chapter 5: Setting a Trap

Qin Wanyi took the initiative to speak, not to invite a scolding, but to shift the topic before Qin Zheng could aim his spearhead at her.

"Father, since the Emperor has long been wary of General Fan growing too powerful, it is unlikely he would easily compromise this time and leave a hidden danger for the Great Xing Dynasty, right?"

Qin Zheng’s eyelids twitched, and he continued to listen.

"Daughter feels that the Emperor would not directly issue an imperial decree to appoint Miss Fan as the Crown Princess; that would be a desperate move. Since the Emperor summoned you for a discussion, there must still be room for a turnaround, right?" Qin Wanyi guessed, trying her best to sound uncertain.

Sure enough, Qin Zheng did not directly refute her. Instead, he sat back down, adopting a posture of negotiation.

"True. Tomorrow, the Crown Prince will accompany Imperial Physician Han to visit you. At that time, the Crown Prince will decide whether to annul the engagement based on the situation. You must understand, while the Crown Prince considers the big picture, he will not compromise to that extent. Given your current state, what kind of turnaround do you think is possible?" Qin Zheng huffed. "Now you know regret, but why didn't you know how to cherish it back then? Causing all this trouble—you really have brought honor to the Prime Minister's residence."

Although Qin Wanyi did not know why she had been causing trouble every day to avoid marrying the Crown Prince—there must have been some hidden reason—this was not the time to get to the bottom of it.

Every word from Qin Zheng was laced with sarcasm, which was truly grating to the ears. However, since the Crown Prince was willing to come, Qin Wanyi felt slightly more at ease. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, she would not give up; that was the attitude of a physician.

"Father, why be so pessimistic? Since success or failure hinges on the Crown Prince, why don't we start with him? If we prescribe the right medicine for the illness, there might still be room for maneuver."

Qin Zheng was slightly moved. He set aside his prejudices for the moment and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Judging by what you said earlier, the Emperor seems to have summoned you privately, away from the Crown Prince. This might suggest that the Emperor has been on our side from the beginning; otherwise, why go through the trouble of discussing it? Isn't that so?"

She did not have much of an impression of the Crown Prince, and she could not scrape together any valuable information from her memories. In fact, apart from the people in the Prime Minister's residence, her memories of outsiders were very blurry.

However, there was a vague, small figure in her mind: a person in white, sitting alone in a wheelchair, cold and aloof, with a gentle smile on his lips. But there were only a few scattered fragments.

She must have met the Crown Prince a few times in her childhood, so she dared not rashly conclude what kind of person he was. But he certainly wouldn't be someone easily manipulated, which was why the Emperor was so furious and blamed Qin Zheng.

Having been hit on the mark by Qin Wanyi, Qin Zheng tacitly agreed, but guessing correctly was one thing, and getting the Crown Prince to nod in agreement was another.

"What way could you possibly have to make the Crown Prince change his mind?"

They weren't even married yet, and just because she was disfigured, the Crown Prince had already become heartless. Now, she was expected to win back a man who had changed his heart. Such a man, who didn't know how to cherish or protect, was just a shallow, vulgar person; he wasn't worth having.

"Daughter is dull and has only thought of a few things. I don't know if Father will be angry if you hear them?" The rigid are easily broken; being too sharp-edged invites jealousy. She certainly did not want to repeat past mistakes.

"Let's hear it." Qin Zheng assumed a posture of patiently listening.

"When the Crown Prince and Imperial Physician Han visit, Father and Second Mother should receive them as you normally would. The etiquette must be thorough, but do not appear overly humble. Although we are the ones asking for help, the Emperor is also in need of something from us. Just treat them according to the duties of a subject. As for how to make the Crown Prince favor the Prime Minister's residence, I have my own ways." Qin Wanyi said calmly, her black-and-white eyes flashing with wisdom.

Vulgar men are all the same, especially those in high positions of power; they want both power and beauty. The Crown Prince's visit tomorrow is merely to see the extent of her disfigurement and whether he can accept it. Compared to the risk of harboring a future threat, he is weighing whether it is worth compromising himself. As long as they can get past that mental hurdle and make them look glorious, what can't be accomplished?

This opportunity was the result of the Emperor's mediation. However, she did not want to become a sacrifice in a power struggle. Since Qin Jingshu wanted that position so badly, fulfilling her wish might kill two birds with one stone.

"What way?" Qin Zheng asked. It was precisely because he had failed the Emperor's grace that he brought his resentment home to vent. If there had been a way, he would have already expressed it to the Emperor.

"Please allow your daughter to keep you in suspense for now." Qin Wanyi hadn't fully thought through the specifics, but they were only details; in this regard, she would need Qin Jingshu's cooperation.

"Is Eldest Sister keeping us in suspense, or do you have no plan at all? Don't delay the big matter and lose our last chance." Qin Jingshu, who had been silent for a long time, hit the nail on the head. Her eyes were filled with undisguised disbelief. What she was more worried about—and felt a vague sense of unease over—was that if the position of Crown Princess fell back into Qin Wanyi's hands, then everything she had done would be meaningless.

"Does Second Sister have a better plan?" Qin Wanyi remained calm and unhurried. Qin Jingshu was left speechless by the retort, but Qin Wanyi knew that Qin Jingshu was losing her composure.

"Father, whether you believe me or not is up to you. Your daughter has only thought of a desperate measure. Everything is for the sake of the Prime Minister's residence. It was only after this brush with death that I realized some things—one can only truly understand certain matters after being pushed to the brink." Qin Wanyi glanced at Qin Zheng's expression and added, "Why not treat a dead horse as a living one? Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope?"

With the situation being so urgent, Qin Zheng had already intended to give up. Since Qin Wanyi put it this way, he could only choose to believe her for now.

"Don't cause any trouble tomorrow, or don't expect to live a peaceful life in the Prime Minister's residence." Qin Zheng stood up, left a threatening remark, and walked away with his hands behind his back.

This was as good as tacitly approving her plan.

"What exactly do you intend to do tomorrow?" After Qin Zheng left, Qin Jingshu adopted an arrogant posture, appearing aggressive, her almond eyes filled with unwillingness.

"Does Second Sister want to sit in the position of Crown Princess?" Qin Wanyi asked instead of answering. That look of seeing through everything made Qin Jingshu grit her teeth in hatred.

"Just because you are the legitimate daughter and I am the concubine's daughter, you think that even if you are disfigured, only you are qualified? Don't forget, the mistress of the Prime Minister's residence now is not your mother, but mine." Qin Jingshu lost her cool, as if she had been stripped of everything, her eyes filled with madness. Was she to endure such despicable treatment just because of the difference between legitimate and illegitimate status?

"Second Sister has had a hard time all these years, hasn't she?" Compared to Qin Jingshu's loss of control, Qin Wanyi remained light and breezy. "Why don't I help you?"

"What?" Qin Jingshu froze, her eyes darting around, guessing Qin Wanyi's intentions.

"Everyone understands the principle that we prosper together and suffer together. Although Second Sister doesn't like me, and I don't like Second Sister, we are both from the Prime Minister's residence after all. If the position of Crown Princess falls into Miss Fan's hands, the future of the Prime Minister's residence won't necessarily be good. Don't thank me, Second Sister; I am only doing this for myself."

Knowing that what Qin Wanyi said was not false, Qin Jingshu still looked wary: "What do you intend to do?"

"Tomorrow, Second Sister just needs to stay with me, dress appropriately, and act according to the situation. You are a smart person; you should understand what I mean."

Qin Jingshu's eyes flickered and suddenly brightened, as if she had guessed the plan, and then she persuaded Madam Zhang to leave with her.

After everyone had left, Qin Wanyi watched their retreating figures, the corners of her mouth curling up, her eyes cold.

Do you really want to be the Crown Princess?

The news of her wet nurse's death still lingered in her mind. She would not let this go. Only by letting them taste the feeling of falling from the clouds to the bottom of the abyss could her wet nurse rest in peace.