Sixty-Nine. Weathering the Storm Together

It wasn’t that Pei Xiunian particularly preferred older women, but at this moment, he truly found that discussing such matters of great consequence with a woman as mature as the Empress Dowager was far more comfortable. A woman of such seasoned experience could, with just a look or a word, discern his intentions and skip directly to deducing the outcome he desired—no need to belabor the details.

She would never, when faced with matters of great importance, pester him for every little reason as an inexperienced girl might. Only after reaching her own conclusions would she inquire about minor particulars, never the motivations behind his actions. That was the difference experience made. The Empress Dowager, after all, could easily comprehend the reasons herself. Regardless of the circumstances, as long as Pei Xiunian eliminated the Second Prince, Emperor Zhaoning would no longer think of killing him—at least, not in the near future.

After Li Yan’s death, Emperor Zhaoning still needed someone to provide him with more sons for the throne, and Pei Xiunian would naturally step into Li Yan’s place. Just as he anticipated, the Empress Dowager now turned her gaze toward him, her eyes thoughtful as she asked, “Did the Second Prince say anything of note when you spoke with him?”

Pei Xiunian shook his head. “He asked only about matters that have long been rumored in the palace. I first suspected he wanted to record my voice as evidence, to use it as leverage later. But throughout our conversation, I sensed no true energy from him—just a vague sense of something odd I can’t quite explain.”

He paused. “But no matter what schemes he’s plotting, it doesn’t change the fact that I have to get rid of him.”

Pei Xiunian was never the type to submit meekly or endure in silence. On the flying ship that day, had he not possessed the Heavenly Eye or immunity to poison, he might have come to real harm. So now, facing this brother who had once shown him the affection of an elder sibling but had already revealed his true colors, Pei Xiunian felt no psychological burden about taking action.

The Empress Dowager smiled, lifting a hand to hide her lips. “You’re becoming more and more like a member of the Demonic Sect. Is it a case of being influenced by the company you keep?”

Pei Xiunian waved this off. “Li Yan was the one who sent people after me. My response is simple reciprocity—nothing more natural. This has nothing to do with the influence of our Yaoguang Sect. Besides, Aunt Meng knows about Xiaoqin’s condition as well—does she look anything like a holy maiden of the Demonic Sect these days?”

Living with them as he had, he sometimes felt the entire Yaoguang Sect was nothing but soft and gentle—what darkness could possibly rub off on him?

That phrase, “our Yaoguang Sect,” brought a subtle brightness to Meng Qingyuan’s eyes. Her slender fingers traced the rim of her celadon teacup as she explained, “I only mean that the way you speak is reminiscent of those from the Demonic Sect. I don’t mean that only the Demonic Sect repays every slight, or that the righteous sects are all saints who turn the other cheek.”

“The righteous sects are often hidebound—some cling to their principles even when they know they’re wrong, others are obsessed with reputation. A good name is everything to them. That’s why they’re so fond of acting aloof and pure, but who knows what they’re really like inside?”

“In short, dealing with them is tedious. If you ever run into some stiff-necked nun from a righteous sect, you’ll know exactly how tiresome the righteous path can be.”

After ranting for a while about the righteous sects, she finally stretched languidly. The heavy snow-white curves of her figure almost seemed ready to spill forth, but she soon let her arm fall and shifted her gaze, changing the subject at last.

“We’ve discovered what the Fifth Prince was up to before his death—he wasn’t nearly as honest and simple as he appeared. In secret, he colluded with a rather powerful Demonic Sect. He was involved in political schemes, but now that he’s dead, there’s no evidence, and the true origins of those documents can no longer be traced. The matter ends there.”

Pei Xiunian raised an eyebrow—this was unexpected. So this prince, known to the public as a notorious playboy, had been up to secret machinations all along? It seemed Zhaoning’s court was truly brimming with talent.

Still, no one knew exactly what the Fifth Prince had been plotting to incur the emperor’s wrath, resulting in that infamous, deadly display of “fatherly love.” But now that the man had been reduced to ashes, there was no way to dig any deeper.

Perhaps the Embroidered Guards could turn up a clue or two, but that would draw too much attention, and Pei Xiunian had no wish to attract further suspicion from the emperor.

He stood, stepped closer, and asked the Empress Dowager, who was now reclining with her legs raised: “How much help can you lend me in eliminating the Second Prince, dear sister?”

Time was pressing, and this rare opportunity would soon pass. If they missed these few days while the Second Prince was in the capital, it would be far more difficult to act against him later. Yet Pei Xiunian’s own resources were still far from enough to strike at a prince surely protected by hidden experts in the court. He could only rely on the strength of a woman.

Although, to be fair, killing Li Yan was mutually beneficial for them both.

Seeing him approach, the Empress Dowager lowered her legs and straightened up, tugging her dark robe casually over her thigh in a gesture both hesitant and inviting.

“I have agreed to help you, but we must still consider every detail carefully. We know neither the timing, the particulars, nor who is protecting Li Yan as he enters the capital—or what method we should use...”

She looked up at Pei Xiunian, who had moved his chair next to her couch, her expression suddenly earnest. “Of course, if the moment grows dire, I can cut him down myself.”

Pei Xiunian instinctively grasped her cool, delicate hand and sighed in exasperation. “Good sister, you’ve only just finished recovering from your injuries. You suffered so badly from the hidden ailment triggered by Xiangliu’s venom—do you really intend to risk your life now?”

The Empress Dowager stared at her hand in his, for a moment unsure whether he spoke as an ally or from some other place in his heart.

She murmured softly, “What I mean is, this matter concerns the great plan between us. I will do everything in my power.”

Pei Xiunian nodded. “But don’t act rashly, whatever happens.”

They were now, after all, in the same boat, sharing weal and woe—neither could achieve their goals without the other.

After a long silence, the Empress Dowager asked, “If you had never become the Third Prince, what would you have done instead?”

Pei Xiunian shrugged. “Had I not been forced into this role with all its endless troubles, perhaps, hearing news of turmoil in the martial world, I would have set out to wander the jianghu. Seeing the heroic spirit in Jiang Yunhe, I truly envy her—she is what a true xianxia hero should be.”

The Empress Dowager laughed. “Had you not become the Third Prince, the fox spirits of Qingqiu would have swept in unchecked—where would this so-called rise of the martial world be?”

Suddenly, Pei Xiunian understood what she meant. This wasn’t truly about what he might have done, but rather that, “since things have come to this, there’s no turning back.”

Neither of them spoke of “what if we fail”—there was no need. Their only choice was to stake everything, just as when the Third Prince was tied up in the Prince Qi’s residence. The odds had been slim then, as they were now, but still, Pei Xiunian would choose to bend the bow and let the arrow fly.