Chapter 125: The Tale

Southern Night was reluctant to reveal all these matters to Yan Heru, but at present, there was no better way to have her enter the palace with him.

Yet if he truly disclosed the purpose of this to Yan Heru, he wasn’t certain she would still agree to go with him.

After much inner struggle, Southern Night relented.

“In truth, the reason I brought you here and arranged for you to enter the palace is simply… to make Father happy. For so many years, he has been melancholic because of the matter concerning the Third Prince’s mother.”

“So as his son, no matter how I might be in other respects, I cannot bear to be cold-hearted toward my own father.”

Thus, Southern Night devised a plan. By chance, he discovered the whereabouts of the Third Prince’s sister’s daughter—Yan Heru.

Hence, he thought of a way: if he could present the Emperor with his granddaughter, perhaps that would bring him some joy, and in turn, the Fourth Prince would be pleased as well.

After hearing the Fourth Prince’s explanation, Yan Heru found it quite reasonable and nodded, but deep down she was well aware.

Perhaps that was part of the truth, but it was certainly not the whole story.

How could there truly be such filial affection among the royal family? Moreover, Yan Heru had once heard from the Ninth Prince that the royal family of Nanyang was rife with conflict. Thus, she did not believe Southern Night had brought her here solely out of filial piety.

Yet she also knew that pressing further would yield no result. However, the matter of the green-clad woman just now—Southern Night likely would not conceal that.

“So that’s how it is. Now I understand. You can tell me about that beautiful woman from earlier,” Yan Heru said, perceiving the complicated relationship between the two.

Southern Night was clearly not a man of gentle temperament, yet the woman had just behaved so wildly and unreasonably before him without incurring his reprimand or a single hand raised against her.

Thus, Yan Heru spoke first in praise of that woman.

As expected, upon hearing someone commend Qi Shengsheng, no matter how unwilling he was to admit it, a smile honestly curved Southern Night’s lips.

Yan Heru noticed this subtle gesture.

“This matter… if I were to explain in detail, it might take a long time, so I’ll give you a brief outline,” Southern Night said, though anxious to leave with Yan Heru, he forced himself to endure a while longer.

In truth, he and the woman were childhood friends in the strictest sense, and both held high status.

One was the Fourth Prince of Nanyang, born to privilege and esteemed rank.

The other, though a woman, was the daughter of the Regent. Nanyang was not ruled by the Emperor alone; in this generation, the Regent assisted in governance.

The Regent had only one daughter, making her, despite her gender, one of the highest-ranked figures in Nanyang.

Qi Shengsheng had long harbored feelings for Southern Night, but he knew the relationship between his father, the Emperor, and the Regent was fraught, even to the point of enmity.

Therefore, he had quietly maintained his relationship with Qi Shengsheng.

However, unlike him, Qi Shengsheng was not so rational and often pestered him, which caused him considerable headache.

After Southern Night’s account, Yan Heru smiled with disdain inwardly. His words suggested a mutual affection between him and the woman, but upon closer analysis, that was not the case.

Not once did he say he truly loved Qi Shengsheng. Yet after hearing the whole story, it seemed he was trying to preserve the only link they had left.

In other words, it sounded as if Southern Night did harbor feelings for Qi Shengsheng.

Why would he say such things?

Yan Heru guessed that Southern Night might be plotting to overthrow the Regent—perhaps for his own sake, or perhaps for his father’s.

Hence, he deliberately crafted the image of liking the Regent’s daughter, yet due to the hostility between the Regent and the Emperor, they could not be together.

Initially, this might have gone unnoticed, but the Regent’s daughter was arrogant and overbearing. Although Southern Night rejected her repeatedly, he never hardened his heart nor took any extreme measures.

This only spurred the Regent’s daughter to pursue him more fervently.

Yan Heru surmised that Southern Night must have treated the Regent’s daughter very well in the past, to the point that she once believed he would marry her.

Of course, all of this was merely Yan Heru’s speculation without evidence.

If Southern Night could indeed marry the Regent’s daughter, no matter the circumstances, he would gain the unwavering support of the Regent as his sole son-in-law.

Currently, the Emperor of Nanyang had many children. Although the Fourth Prince was a strong contender for the throne, it was by no means guaranteed. Thus, Southern Night was likely scheming for his own future.

Seeing Yan Heru listening intently, Southern Night frowned darkly, his voice turning sharp.

“Now that you’ve heard what you wanted, will you come into the palace with me?” he asked.

Yan Heru nodded reluctantly.

She knew she could no longer delay and so would temporarily enter the palace with Southern Night.

In truth, Yan Heru had another plan in entering the palace: she had yet to find Shen Hezhi. If Shen Hezhi had disappeared near the border of Beiyu Kingdom, there should be some clue.

Therefore, Shen Hezhi might have gone missing within Nanyang’s territory, and Yan Heru hoped this trip might yield some leads.

Southern Night led Yan Heru toward the imperial palace. She sat concealed within a sedan chair, her face unseen by anyone.

As their procession passed through the busiest street, suddenly a group rushed out, scattering Southern Night’s entourage. Most of them seized Yan Heru and took her away.

“Seize them! Do not let them take Yan Heru!” Southern Night shouted in panic.

He wanted to rush forward himself, and indeed he did, but he was the farthest from her. Yan Heru was positioned in the middle for her protection, while Southern Night was at the front to assert the identity of their group.

Thus, the distance was greatest.

Southern Night never imagined that even with his group’s identity displayed upfront, someone would still break through and abduct her.

“Your Highness… we can’t find them…” one of Southern Night’s men knelt before him.

Hearing this, Southern Night furiously kicked the man.

“Hurry and find them! If you fail, none of you will return!” he bellowed.