His gaze shifted to Mo Chen, and his voice remained cold and detached. "Dispose of that old nanny."
"Anyone who disagrees is welcome to come with their men and clean my courtyard. Let's see how it ends for them."
His words left no room for debate.
It was also a warning to those who dared to challenge him: those who sought death were free to come.
Mo Chen signaled the guards beside him to take action. Ignoring Nanny Zhang's cries, he immediately pushed the wheelchair.
Right in front of everyone, He Ciyuan grasped a maid's hand and calmly left through the path cleared by the crowd.
It didn't seem like a hasty retreat; rather, it was as if a king, after inspecting his domain, was leaving with his spoils, his head held high.
It wasn't until their figures disappeared that the oppressive atmosphere finally shattered!
"Rebellion! This is sheer madness!" The old lady trembled with rage, pointing in the direction of the door. She struggled to utter a coherent sentence for a long time.
The marquis's wife quickly supported her. Her eyes were filled with malice as she stared venomously at the door. "A cripple and a lowly maid actually think they're someone important!"
"We must thoroughly investigate today's incident. Otherwise, they'll surely become overconfident!"
Meanwhile, Bixi's hands hanging by her sides were already white from clenching.
It was evident that Tian Yao had truly won the eldest young master's favor.
...
Back in the courtyard, away from the outside commotion, the air seemed even more stifling.
He Ciyuan finally let go of her hand.
Tian Yao felt as if she had been granted amnesty. She quickly retracted her hand into her sleeve, but her fingertips still trembled uncontrollably. The skin he had touched burned with an intense heat.
She lowered her head, too afraid to meet his gaze.
[Big shot, say something! What was that all about just now? Even acting requires a script. Your impromptu performance is too much for me to handle!]
He Ciyuan, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He wheeled himself to the window and stared at the mess outside, his expression inscrutable.
Just then, Mo Chen slipped in silently, holding a small bamboo tube in his hand.
"Sir, there's a message from 'over there'."
He Ciyuan took the bamboo tube and poured out a tiny scroll of paper. He unfurled it.
After a single glance, a sharp glint flashed across his otherwise calm eyes. He then held the paper to the candle flame until it turned to ashes.
"Prepare the carriage. I'm going out." he ordered.
Mo Chen was taken aback. "Sir, now? Something just happened in the mansion..."
"Precisely because something happened is it the perfect opportunity." A cold smile played on He Ciyuan's lips. "Everyone's attention is focused on the mansion. No one will notice."
He paused for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Tian Yao, who was trying her best to shrink into a corner.
"You, come with me."
Tian Yao looked up abruptly, her face pale with fear.
[How would I know where you're going? What if someone takes a fancy to my beauty? You might just offer me up as a gift. I don't want to be a helpless victim!]
Being with He Ciyuan was always a high - risk activity. She might just encounter an assassin in a moment.
"No... it's not appropriate, my lord. This servant..."
"Don't you understand my words?" He Ciyuan interrupted her. His voice was calm, but it carried an oppressive aura, as if left over from a bloody battle.
Tian Yao immediately fell silent.
She knew that he wasn't asking for her opinion; he was simply informing her.
Half an hour later, an ordinary green - cloth carriage quietly left the secluded side gate of the Yongyi Marquis Mansion and merged into the night of the capital.
Inside the carriage, Tian Yao sat nervously, keeping a good distance from He Ciyuan.
[It must be on purpose. The assassin hasn't been caught yet, and he dares to go out, even bringing me, a witness. Is he afraid I'll live too long?]
Although he had saved her, she thought each matter should be judged separately.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the carriage stopped at the back door of a secluded mansion.
Mo Chen stayed outside to keep watch. He Ciyuan wheeled himself forward and motioned for Tian Yao to follow.
The mansion was quiet. An old servant carrying a lantern led the way. After a series of twists and turns, they entered a study.
An old man in a plain, dark robe, with half - gray hair and beard but still looking energetic, was waiting for them.
When he saw He Ciyuan, his eyes lit up, but then they dimmed as his gaze fell on his legs. There was deep pain in his eyes.
"Sir, you've suffered." The old man's voice was hoarse as he bowed deeply.
He Ciyuan accepted the bow calmly and simply said, "Lord Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit."
Tian Yao was left outside, her heart in her throat.
[Lord Chen? Someone who He Ciyuan addresses as 'Lord' must be at least a high - ranking official like a minister. And he bowed to him... ]
She didn't fully understand the official hierarchy here, but she knew that only a well - respected and high - ranking official from a prominent family could be addressed in such a way.
She didn't dare to think too much, feeling a chill run down her spine.
The leg she had latched onto was much thicker than she had imagined, and perhaps also more dangerous.
The study door was slightly ajar, and the voices inside drifted out intermittently.
"...The one in the palace is getting weaker... The second and fourth princes are vying fiercely..."
"...Regarding your return to the palace... This old official wishes to make arrangements for you. Today's assassination attempt was fraught with danger. I'm afraid I might fail in my mission..."
"...Is there really no way to cure your legs? The imperial physicians in the palace said..."
Tian Yao's heart was pounding faster and faster. Each fragmented word was like a thunderclap in her mind.
The marquis! The princes! The palace!
Putting these words together, they pointed to a possibility she didn't even dare to think about.
[Stop!! Is this guy from the palace? Shouldn't he be vying for the position in the marquis mansion? Even if he's vying for a position in the palace, it should be an official post. Could it be... ]
[The dragon throne...?]
The moment this thought crossed her mind, Tian Yao's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
She had always thought she had landed in a story of in - house struggles, with a bit of court intrigue and some squabbles among women. But now it seemed that this was clearly a story of imperial power struggle of the highest difficulty!
Something wasn't right. Tian Yao's mind raced as she tried to recall the plot.
He Huaibi and Bixi were the main characters of the original story. She, He Chengyu, and the others were simply cannon fodder. The story was about someone pretending to be weak to defeat the strong. He Ciyuan was supposed to be the final big boss.
She remembered that the story was about power struggles and palace intrigues. He Huaibi and He Ciyuan had been in a fierce battle. She had only skimmed through the story and didn't know who would win. She hadn't reached the end.
It seemed that He Ciyuan's true identity might not be the illegitimate son brought back. The marquis was willing to give him half of his estate. It was very likely that he had a connection with the palace. Could he be a prince secretly living outside the palace?
It meant that the person she had latched onto wasn't just a powerful figure but a future prince!
[Oh my goodness! I think I got the wrong script!]
Just as she was in a state of panic, the study door creaked open.
The old man walked out with a solemn expression. He nodded slightly at her and then left in a hurry.
He Ciyuan sat alone in his wheelchair, his back to the door. It was unclear what he was thinking.
Tian Yao took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and walked in. She whispered, "Sir..."
He Ciyuan turned his wheelchair to face her.
In the candlelight, half of his face was hidden in the shadows. His deep, dark eyes were like a cold pool, showing no emotion.
Tian Yao felt a shiver run down her spine under his gaze. Just as she was about to make an excuse to leave, she heard him speak suddenly. His voice was not loud, but it hit her heart like a hammer.
"How much of what was said just now did you hear?"