"It is said that Tang Zhiyi was swapped over as a child, but secretly, there were people always cultivating him. His nursemaids and some servants are all Chen Country people. The Marquis family was completely unaware; now that they’ve found out, they’ve specifically interrogated Tang Zhiyi about where the real Young Marquis has gone. It is said that after the swap succeeded, they killed the Marquis’s biological child." Ashui sighed, "Chen Country people are even more sinister than imagined."

"The Emperor decided to execute Tang Zhiyi. To let him return is akin to letting a tiger back into the wild; there’s nothing worth swapping for him, and excuses for his execution are easy to find, and Chen Country can’t protect him. Princess Wen Yuee is different; she doesn’t have a good mind and is of Commandery Princess status, so she can be swapped for quite a few things, and letting her return doesn’t cause any trouble."

Qiann Yan raised her eyebrows, "She won’t have good days even if she returns."

Burying such deeply-hidden spies, it’ll be a miracle if Chen Country lets her off.

"That’s well-deserved." Ashui laughed quietly, those who intend to harm the Commandery Princess deserve whatever miserable fate they face.

The Emperor was quite satisfied with this round of punishments; after all these years as Emperor, he still has some tricks up his sleeve.

Tang Zhiyi was publicly beheaded, while Yun Lann was swapped back to Chen Country under certain conditions. There’s no avoiding the swap at this point.

Upon learning of this, the people of Great Zhou admired Qiann Yan more and more; everywhere were praises of her being a heroine not allowing men to overshadow her, and rarely does anyone speak ill of her anymore. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Even the Emperor doesn’t find her as unpleasant; although she tends to blow things up, it’s always Chen Country that suffers losses, which is rather good.

Chen Country, knowing there’s no hope of killing Qiann Yan, chose to give up.

Nowadays, most of the spies they’ve planted for years have been uprooted, leaving them no choice but to lay low for a while.

Jing Yunzhou, however, found Qiann Yan and explained that he’s been too busy recently to visit her.

Jing Yunzhou couldn’t help but survey the people around Qiann Yan, thinking that these were probably the people who repeatedly helped her escape calamities?

It’s indeed like a blind cat running into a dead mouse how she managed to encounter these masters.

Qiann Yan leisurely sipped her tea, listening to Jing Yunzhou occasionally complain and express his longing for her, feeling even the tea was becoming rather tiresome.

This person, did he cover himself in oil before stepping out today?

"Unfortunately, I’m now just a Deposed Crown Prince, without even a Prince’s title, let alone being able to marry you back."

Qiann Yan put down the teacup, "Second Prince, I’m already a Commandery Princess, who gave you the courage to say you’d marry me? You already have a legitimate wife and yet want me to return as a concubine, isn’t that somewhat of a pipe dream?"

Jing Yunzhou was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words, because Qiann Yan spoke nothing but the truth; she is the most special Commandery Princess in Great Zhou, possessing a title and a fief, her prestige now higher than any of the Emperor’s sons.

Just because she is a woman, the Emperor can tolerate such matters.

Moreover, the Emperor understands, as long as she is in Great Zhou, Chen Country has to be cautious arranging spies and assassins, lest they be caught by her.

She is particularly skilled at capturing spies and assassins.

"Yanyan, do you look down on me too?"

Qiann Yan couldn’t drink anymore and put down the teacup, "I fully understand why you came here, it’s nothing more than thinking there are a few useful people around me."

Jing Yunzhou’s expression changed, faced with Qiann Yan’s penetrating gaze, his eyes dimmed.

"But I truly like you, if I can seize that position, I will certainly make you Empress."

Qiann Yan, "Then along with a bunch of women serving you?"

Still harboring such pretty thoughts, this person really lacks self-awareness.

"Is it not satisfactory to grant you the title of Empress?" Jing Yunzhou was incredulous, "Yanyan, you’re just too jealous."

Ashui: Foolish bastard.