Yi Qing found that the emperor never made things easy for her!
Whatever she wanted to do, the emperor would always do the opposite.
He didn't seem to react so quickly to many things in the past. Why was he so eager when it came to Purple Perilla?
"What should we do now?" Yi Qing looked at Xiao Tian, her eyes seemingly saying, "Look at the good deed your buddy has done."
"The emperor may have given his promise, but whether he can catch the person is another matter." A sly glint flashed in Xiao Tian's eyes.
"Did you inform the emperor?"
"Of course." Xiao Tian immediately put on a serious look. "How could we keep such an important thing from the emperor? Don't act on impulse. If the emperor asks you himself or sends someone to ask when you found out Purple Perilla's identity, you must say you don't know. Do you understand?"
"Okay." Yi Qing replied sullenly. "I really only found out yesterday. Are you sure the emperor won't go back on his word and make things difficult for Purple Perilla?"
"He shouldn't." Xiao Tian said. "But you need to tell me again how you got to know her."
Yi Qing told him everything in detail. After that, looking at Xiao Tian who seemed to be deep in thought, she said, "Since you already know Purple Perilla's identity, do you know who made her suffer so much back then? Her siblings?"
She thought it must be a matter of power struggle. The crown prince was always a high - risk position. Many crown princes died in office.
But Xiao Tian shook his head. "No."
"No? Was it a treacherous official who usurped the throne?"
"On her wedding day, she was betrayed by her future husband, who reported her for plotting a rebellion."
In this short sentence, Yi Qing sensed a storm of emotions.
Wedding, husband, betrayal, rebellion... The most beautiful day in one's life, falling from the clouds to the mud and being trampled on.
No wonder she looked so miserable when she first appeared in front of her... Yi Qing couldn't help but wonder what Purple Perilla had been through.
"What happened later?" Seeing that Xiao Tian didn't speak, she almost asked impatiently.
"Later, she was thrown into prison, and then somehow she escaped and disappeared without a trace. A few months later, she came to you. You know the rest."
"I don't know." Yi Qing said. "I still don't know why she goes back to the Southern Border every year."
"She may still have some remaining forces. But this is just my guess."
Yi Qing sighed. "So what's the situation in the Southern Border now? Who is the emperor? And is there a crown prince?"
"The current emperor of the Southern Border is Purple Perilla's father, and the crown princess is her half - sister."
Her own father didn't believe her, and her half - sister took her place. No one cared about her... Yi Qing felt so heart - broken for Purple Perilla.
She knew Purple Perilla well. Purple Perilla was definitely not a person driven by greed for power. She couldn't do such a thing as usurpation.
Even if, for the sake of argument, she did do it, it must have been out of coercion or for some other reason.
"What about that scumbag?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Xiao Tian knew she was talking about the man who almost became Purple Perilla's husband. "He married the current crown princess and is now a first - rank official, in charge of half of the military power in the Southern Border."
"He doesn't deserve it!" Yi Qing couldn't help but scold. "Those two lovebirds must have colluded long ago to set a trap for Purple Perilla."
"We can't rule out that possibility," Xiao Tian said seriously. "But that man is no ordinary person."
"A master at playing with women's feelings?"
"I don't know about that, but he is a formidable opponent in military strategy."
"Compared with you, who is more powerful?" Yi Qing squinted at Xiao Tian.
"I should be, slightly better." Xiao Tian thought for a while and said. "But there's no absolute certainty."
"I'm relieved then." Yi Qing said. "If he dares to come to the Central Plains, you should beat him to the ground!"
Xiao Tian wanted to say that this idea was naive, but looking at her proud expression, he felt inexplicably happy.
"So," Yi Qing said again, "you've already talked to the emperor, and the current manhunt is just for show in front of the Southern Border envoys, right?"
"Yes." Xiao Tian nodded. "But the emperor's intention is for Purple Perilla to fend for herself. If she really reveals her whereabouts and is noticed by the Southern Border people, the emperor will have to cooperate with the envoys and arrest her."
"Are you sure the emperor won't tip them off himself?"
Yi Qing didn't trust the emperor at all.
"The emperor wishes the Southern Border would be in chaos. Why would he hand Purple Perilla over to them?"
"I believe this point you made." Yi Qing rolled her eyes. "He is only interested in benefits and wants to have it all."
But it was good this way. She could finally relax a bit and let Purple Perilla stay here safely.
"What kind of medicine did you give me? Why do I smell like fish now?" Purple Perilla asked Yi Qing.
Yi Qing lowered her head to grind her medicine and said casually, "It's better than being found by that Su Bai, isn't it?"
Purple Perilla fell silent immediately.
"The emperor wants to see you tonight." Yi Qing said. "He is a petty man. He won't be at ease unless he asks you some things in person. Be prepared."
Purple Perilla gave a soft "hmm". "Do I go to the palace?"
"No, he's coming for dinner."
"But... won't he be discovered? It's not appropriate for an emperor to visit a widow's house. Even if he says he's here to see Xiao Tian, who would believe it?"
Yi Qing rolled her eyes. "You'll know tonight."
Our emperor was multi - talented. He was good at digging and crawling through tunnels.
The emperor came for dinner that night. After that, he talked with Purple Perilla alone until midnight before returning to the palace.
Yi Qing had fallen asleep long ago. She didn't know and didn't care what they talked about. She just asked Purple Perilla the next day, "Did it go badly?"
Hearing Purple Perilla say "No", she didn't ask any more questions.
The Prince of Zhen also learned about Purple Perilla's identity from Xiao Tian. He was very proud of his judgment and flirted with Purple Perilla even more boldly.
"Marry me. I'll lead the troops to crush the Southern Border and seize your throne back for you."
Purple Perilla sneered. "Thank you! That's my home! Those are my people!"
The Prince of Zhen said, "It's no use talking about these things if you can't go back. It's so close if I dispatch troops from Fujian. As long as you agree to marry me, I guarantee I'll get back what you deserve."
"I'll get what I want myself." Purple Perilla said. "Don't worry about it. Just take good care of your injury so that I won't feel guilty. Also, don't be so stupid next time. Don't rush forward against the flying arrows. I can handle it myself."
"Handle it your ass! If I hadn't stepped forward to block for you, would you still be alive? If I can't even protect my own woman, how can I call myself a man?"
"Didn't you say you were useless?"
The Prince of Zhen winked proudly. "Whether I'm useful or not, just give it a try! If you agree to marry me, do you believe I can have our wedding night right now?"
"So amazing?" Purple Perilla sneered. "Get up and show me now."