In the blink of an eye, silence fell again.
Having made arrangements for what would come after, Prince Qi sank into silence, merely plotting in his mind.
He had told her only half of it.
In truth, after the Crown Prince died, though Prince Qi was grief-stricken and doubtful, his joy had not been small either. For a time, he had prepared to contend for the position of legitimate heir step by step.
But as he grew older, the more he thought, the colder he became. Especially after his nephew entered the capital, as winds and clouds shifted, and with the arrival of Xie Zhenqing and the Divine Strategy Army, his suspicions grew ever deeper, bringing him ever closer to the truth.
Those who ate dragons gained long life. If such a method truly existed, then he, Prince Shu, his nephew, and even all their descendants were nothing more than his imperial father's rations.
And because his imperial father had already noticed, Prince Qi had now given up all hope of a normal succession. He had to flip the table.
As he pondered, the Princess Consort clutched the token tightly in her hand and simply leaned against his side.
Her heart was filled with bewilderment.
Where, in the end, did the road ahead lie?
"Don't be afraid. The Capital City has three great canals, and its waterways stretch in all directions. Even Father Emperor cannot keep them sealed at all times."
Seeing her fear, Prince Qi quietly held her shoulder and soothed her gently.
"For days now, there has been torrential rain. That is a good thing. It will make it easier for you to escape amid the chaos, giving you at least a few more chances."
"The Imperial City Office is indeed formidable, but the Three Adjacent Regions are