"Miss Yang," a low male voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Yang Ruoning. A person emerged from the shadows. Yang Ruoning looked closely and realized it was Jiang Qi.
"Lord Jiang?" Yang Ruoning glanced nervously at the projection still playing inside, unsure how long Jiang Qi had been standing there and how much he had heard.
"Miss Yang, may I invite you inside for a talk?" Jiang Qi gestured for her to enter.
Yang Ruoning hurried inside with a few quick steps, her movements a little flustered, and quickly turned off the projector. "This is not some 'immortal art' or 'sorcery.' It's just ordinary technology from our world," Yang Ruoning explained.
"Miss Yang, there's no need to be nervous. I understand," Jiang Qi said. He pointed to the laptop on the small square table, confirming with Yang Ruoning, "Computer?"
Yang Ruoning nodded.
"And this?" He pointed to the projector.
"Projector."
"The light just now came from here?"
"Yes."
"Could you turn it on again for me to see?" he asked.
Yang Ruoning turned on the projector, and her birthday party began playing again on the white wall. Jiang Qi stood with his back to her, watching the screen, his gaze fixed on the people in the images for a long time. He then asked, "Is this Ruoxuan when he was young?"
"Yes."
"He looks as if he's still alive, doesn't he? Yang Ruoning, your things are always so miraculous. The world a thousand years from now is truly something to aspire to," Jiang Qi sighed.
He was familiar with these things. Clearly, Jason had shown him modern technology, and their story was far more complex than Jiang Yuefeng had described.
"I assume you have much to tell me now?" Yang Ruoning asked calmly.
In the flickering projection light, in the silent ancestral hall, and in his somewhat aged voice, Jiang Qi recounted a long-forgotten story. The tale was lengthy and somewhat monotonous. Yang Ruoning watched the dawn light gradually appear outside the carved red lacquered window, feeling as if it were all a dream, so unreal.
Jiang Qi spoke of being sent to the palace as a boy to be chosen as the Crown Prince's attendant, and how he and his master eventually fell in love. He spoke of accompanying the late Emperor on a secret tour outside the palace, where they met Jason from a mysterious immortal realm in Jiangnan. The late Emperor then invited Jason to the palace and appointed him as the National Teacher. He spoke of how the lonely court life led Jason and his sister, who was then the Noble Consort Jiang Yuefeng, to fall for each other. The palace was no longer a dark and silent cage; the four of them became the best of friends, covering for each other's unconventional love. He spoke of Qingye's birth and the late Emperor's desire to abolish the Crown Prince and appoint Qingye as the heir, to which the ministers vehemently objected. He spoke of the day the Crown Prince and Empress left the palace to offer incense, and by unfortunate chance, a falling stone tragically killed them both. Qingye, as the Emperor's only surviving son, smoothly became the Crown Prince. He spoke of how Jason intended to return to his own world to bid farewell to Yang Ruoning but never did. He spoke of the late Emperor falling ill and passing away a year later. He spoke of Qingye becoming the new Emperor and the late Emperor appointing him as Prime Minister to aid the country.
"You know," Yang Ruoning said.
"Know what?" Jiang Qi asked.
"About the Empress," Yang Ruoning said.
Jiang Qi was taken aback for a moment. He asked, "What about the Empress?"
Jiang Qi seemed unaware. Yang Ruoning said, "Never mind. She's dead. But this doesn't require divine power; anyone with a brain could guess that the Empress was a thorn in your side."
"She stumbled upon Ruoxuan and Yuefeng together," his voice suddenly regained its usual cold authority. "We had to act first."
"But the Crown Prince..."
"We never found the child's body. There are rumors on the streets that Luo Yuan is that child," Jiang Qi finished Yang Ruoning's sentence. "Miss Yang, do you think I've revealed all these secrets tonight merely to reminisce about the past?"
"You... why haven't you made a move yet?" Yang Ruoning asked.
"Firstly, the Crown Prince's seal has not yet appeared. Secondly, Luo Yuan has been stationed in the northern frontier, bravely defending against the harassment of the Jin people, and has achieved great merit. He has also made no move. Without concrete evidence, a rash action might not garner support from all sides." Jiang Qi looked at Yang Ruoning. "Now that Miss Yang is staying at Luo Yuan's residence, can you help me, help His Majesty?" He emphasized the word "His Majesty."
Seeing Yang Ruoning's silence, he added, "Miss Yang must know that once Luo Yuan succeeds, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager will surely face death."
"How can I help?" Yang Ruoning asked.
"It's simple. Tell me what he does every day, who he meets with, and what he discusses."
"He never tells me about those important matters."
"Miss Yang, you have a way of knowing, even if that person is a thousand miles away, don't you?"
Yang Ruoning glanced at Jiang Qi, surprised by his knowledge of the modern world, and felt a sense of revulsion and unease.
"Why do you think I would betray Luo Yuan? You should have heard the rumors on the streets already."
Jiang Qi actually chuckled at this. He turned to look at Yang Ruoning. "Has Miss Yang truly fallen for General Luo?"
After a long pause, Yang Ruoning did not reply.
Jiang Qi sighed lightly and said, "Miss, you come from another world and do not understand the power struggles brewing here. Luo Yuan believes he bears the weight of the world and would not linger on fleeting romantic affections. He was betrothed to the only daughter of Old General Luo since childhood. When this matter is settled, Miss, it would be best for you to extricate yourself as soon as possible."
Yang Ruoning felt an inexplicable annoyance, but she did not want to show it. She looked at the brightening sky outside the window and stood up. She casually stuffed the items on the table into her backpack. She said to Jiang Qi, "I will consider your suggestion. But I want you to know that I am helping you because Qingye and Yuefeng are my family. The throne and the world, I do not care about." With that, she turned and left without looking back.