Chapter 139: Faking Death — Never to Meet Again
That violent, cruel thought had only flashed through his mind for an instant. No matter what this woman had done to him, Yan Mohan simply could not bring himself to hurt her.
Little Eight suddenly said to Nan Xun, “Just now, the big boss’s blackening value hit 100.”
Nan Xun: …
“Yaoyao, both times you returned from White Horse Temple, your body carried the sandalwood scent that only Yan Moyu has—the smell I hate the most.” Yan Mohan stared straight at Nan Xun, his expression cold and heavy.
Hearing this, Nan Xun finally understood where she had given herself away.
“Yaoyao, do you know? I had actually already decided to abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Xian.”
Seeing the surprise in Nan Xun’s eyes, Yan Mohan couldn’t help but let out a self-mocking laugh. “Are my words really that unworthy of your trust? From the moment you said you wanted me to give up the throne and love only you, I began preparing for it. I dismissed the harem for you—that was the first step. I stopped suppressing the Qin family—that was the second step. Not long ago, I also began gradually dismantling some of my own forces. It wasn’t until I discovered that you had dealings with Prince Xian that I stopped before taking the final step.”
Nan Xun was stunned.
So when she had tried to sound him out back then—asking whether he would be willing to give up the throne—he had deliberately said he wouldn’t?
Was he angry because he had discovered that she met Prince Xian?
Yan Mohan continued, “I truly wanted to fulfill all your wishes and live with you as an ordinary married couple. But why did you have to meet Prince Xian? Yaoyao, I am now the ruler of a nation, treating you with all my heart and soul, yet even in this situation you still went to see him. If I were to become completely destitute one day, would you really continue to stay with me?”
Nan Xun didn’t want Yan Mohan to misunderstand her, nor did she want him to be hurt, so she patiently explained, “Brother Han, meeting Prince Xian wasn’t my intention. Last time, Mother asked me to meet her at White Horse Temple, so I went. I never expected that the one I’d see wouldn’t be Mother, but Prince Xian. There truly is nothing between Prince Xian and me. Please believe me, okay?”
Yan Mohan, however, shook his head with a bitter smile. “Yaoyao, at this point, why are you still lying to me? The first time, you truly didn’t know. But what about the second time? Wasn’t the second meeting something you initiated yourself?”
Nan Xun paused briefly, then immediately said, “The second time was indeed when I took the initiative to ask Prince Xian to talk, but—”
Yan Mohan cut her off, his voice dark and chilling. “I’ve already guessed it. He told you to poison me. That way, Yan Moyu could rightfully inherit the throne.”
Nan Xun suddenly wanted nothing more than to slap Yan Mohan to death.
“Yaoyao, can you tell me—do you actually love me or not?” Yan Mohan suddenly tightened his grip on her hand, squeezing hard.
He was afraid. But if he couldn’t get a definite answer, he couldn’t accept it.
Nan Xun rolled her eyes straight up at the sky. “Of course I love you! The person I love most in this lifetime is you. So, Yan Mohan, are you done acting yet? There was nothing at all in that cup of tea—aren’t you overthinking things just a bit too much?”
Yan Mohan instantly froze, as if struck by lightning. His expression was extraordinarily vivid.
“Im—impossible! My shadow guard personally saw you pour a packet of powder into the tea!”
“Brother Han, you looked exhausted, so I added a bit of medicinal powder to refresh you. It was all tonic medicine!” Nan Xun said irritably.
Yan Mohan opened his mouth, but not a single word came out. He looked rather ridiculous.
“Yan Mohan, you keep saying that I don’t trust you—so who exactly is the one not trusting whom now? Poisoning you? Trying to kill my own husband? Yan Mohan, is that really the kind of vicious woman I am in your heart?!”
Nan Xun fired off her questions one after another, her eyes already wet with tears.
Yan Mohan felt heartbroken at the sight. If this was truly the case, then he really had wronged Yaoyao. Guilt and regret welled up inside him—but after the guilt and remorse came an overwhelming surge of joy.
Yaoyao hadn’t poisoned him!
Yaoyao loved him!
“Yaoyao, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I was wrong. I—”
“Too late! Yan Mohan, let me tell you—I’m going to destroy the thing you treasure most today!” Nan Xun shouted angrily.
Yan Mohan was startled and was just about to say “don’t hurt yourself,” when Nan Xun suddenly flicked her hand and flung a handful of powder straight into his face.
Yan Mohan’s body swayed—and he collapsed to the ground.
The moment Yan Mohan fainted, Shadow Two—who had been lurking in the dark to keep watch on Nan Xun—immediately appeared, rushing forward to seize the emperor.
All the other shadow guards had been sent away by the emperor on other tasks; only Shadow Two was here.
Nan Xun swiftly pulled the hairpin from her head and pressed it against Yan Mohan’s neck, shouting sharply at Shadow Two, “Don’t come any closer!”
Shadow Two said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty the Empress, what exactly do you intend to do?”
Nan Xun ignored him and directly instructed Cui Huan, “There’s no time—quickly knock this troublesome fellow out.”
With the emperor held hostage, Shadow Two dared not resist. After being hit with the sedative, he collapsed in the courtyard.
After a moment’s thought, Nan Xun dragged Shadow Two into the room and hid him away, lest people later discover that both the emperor and empress were missing and mistake Shadow Two for an assassin.
Master and servant worked quickly to change Yan Mohan into eunuch’s clothing, while the two of them disguised themselves as palace maids.
Yan Moyu’s people were already waiting at the designated location. When they saw them, they quickly loaded the “eunuch” they were carrying into a grain transport wagon, covering him completely with straw. Nan Xun and Cui Huan, the two “palace maids,” followed along with the convoy.
From there to the final palace gate, there were several checkpoints. But Nan Xun was impressive—she directly took out the imperial gold token she had obtained from Yan Mohan, and just like that, they passed through unhindered and left the palace.
The grain wagon jolted along for a long time. Finally, it slowed to a stop. Nan Xun lifted the curtain and saw a simple, plain carriage, beside which stood Yan Moyu in splendid robes.
Nan Xun froze for a moment when she saw him, then nodded slightly. Together with Cui Huan, she lifted Yan Mohan down from the wagon and transferred him into that carriage.
Yan Moyu watched her from beginning to end, his gaze complicated.
In the past, he had only felt that Qin Buyao was like a gorgeous flower—pleasing to the eye. They had grown up together since childhood, and their bond was anything but shallow.
But when had things begun to change?
When she entered the palace, she had been unwilling in every possible way, yet at that time he could give her no promises. All he could do was watch helplessly as she entered the palace and became the emperor’s consort. When they met again later, it was as if she had suddenly become a different person. Admittedly, she now had the identity of a consort, but the estrangement in her eyes had nothing to do with status.
The way she looked at him was as if she were looking at a stranger.
After learning that she had made such a decision for the emperor, Yan Moyu felt a deep sense of admiration for a woman for the first time in his life.
At the same time, however, a trace of envy—one he did not want to acknowledge—began to grow deep in his heart.
He had no shortage of confidantes by his side, but if one day he were to lose everything and become a commoner, would those women still admire and love him the way they did now?
“Buyao…” Yan Moyu couldn’t help calling her name softly.
After settling the big boss, Nan Xun stepped out of the carriage. Imitating the manner of a wandering martial hero, she cupped her fists toward Yan Moyu and said with a smile, “Prince Xian, green mountains remain and clear waters flow on—if fate allows, we may meet again. But it would be best if we never do. From tonight onward, there will no longer be Yan Mohan or Qin Buyao in this world—only a pair of ordinary commoner spouses.”
