Emotions are the cheapest thing.

  Jiuyin's lips curled up slightly, and it was clear that he could hear his disdain and resentment towards the Emperor of Dongchu.

  Alright, just treat him as a man who can't get along with his father and steals his wife. However, in this feudal era, it's unheard of for one woman to serve two husbands.

  The war-torn city turned its face away, gazing at the scenery outside the window, and the complex emotions in her eyes disappeared. She continued: "The harem is now divided into three factions, with Rong Gui Fei leading one faction, the mother of the second prince, Rou Gui Fei, leading another faction, and the last faction being the Crown Prince's party."

  Of course, these are the three major factions with roughly equal power. As for other smaller sects and schools, there are too many to count. The imperial harem has always been like this - as long as a faction's power is insufficient, they will inevitably be annexed by a more powerful one. Their own private thoughts are not worth mentioning.

  "The emperor is incompetent and afraid of the harem's power, so he lets them expand their own influence as long as they can balance each other out, and he won't interfere too much."

  She leaned against him again and found that she particularly liked to lean on him and listen to him talk about current events. He seemed to have lost interest in romantic love, but when it came to politics and the battlefield, he was very enthusiastic.

  "So this time, the person who sent someone to assassinate Feng Chenye, wouldn't it be someone from the Crown Prince's faction or the Rong Gui Fei's faction?" She changed into a more comfortable position and closed her eyes: "Right, which faction does Feng Chenye belong to? Is he with Rong Gui Fei's people?"

  Zhan Qingcheng shook his head, gazing out the window with a distant look in his eyes: "He's naturally unrestrained and has his own way of doing things, but he doesn't have any desire to fight for power. Even now, he's still an object that all three factions want to win over."

  "But he was very close to the Seventh Prince..."

  "Feng Mu Jin may not be willing to participate in court politics either."

  She opened her eyes and gazed at the corner of his plain white robe with downcast eyes.

  Feng Mu Jin, roughly that is the name of the Seventh Prince, Qing Cheng's understanding of their temperament is quite profound.

  "Does Imperial Noble Consort Rong have other sons besides Seventh Prince?"

  "No."

  Jiǔ yīn bù jiě le, jì rán méi yǒu qí tā ér zǐ, ér qī wáng ye yòu bù yuàn zhēng quán, nà tā zhè bān fān yún nòng yǔ de, yòu shì tú gè shén me?

  Translation:

  The nine sounds are not clear, since there is no other son, and the Seventh Prince does not want to fight for power, then what is she trying to achieve with her schemes?

  No matter how capable a woman is, in this era she is still useless; in the end, she still has to rely on her husband and son.

  It seems like this husband is unreliable, and unfortunately their son is also disappointing. So what's the point of her struggling for most of her life?

  "The struggle in the harem is even more terrifying than the bloody battles on the battlefield." The majestic palm suddenly clenched, and his gaze also became fierce.

  He pursed his thin lips, remained silent for a moment, before saying: "If the Honorable Consort Rong cannot have her own power, I'm afraid that over these years, Seventh Prince and Feng Chenye might not have been able to pass their youth in peace."

  He spoke calmly, but Jiuyin somehow heard the storm and blood within.

  The imperial harem is truly a terrifying place. Among those princes who have the qualifications to inherit the throne, how many can really live safely and grow up?

  However, Rong Gui Fei still protected Feng Chen Ye under her own wings, and it seemed that Feng Chen Ye also respected her greatly.

  It's rare to have such feelings in the harem, probably because Feng Chenye's mother had passed away early on, allowing Rong Gui Fei to treat him like her own. Otherwise...

  It's not that she thought people were so bad, it's just that in this world, there are really few people who will be good to others without any reason.

  But Rong Gui Fei went to such great lengths to protect her son, this motherly love is at least moving.

  "So, it's impossible for Feng Chenye to betray Rong Gui Fei. Then, why do the other two parties still have hope in him?" He grew up under Rong Gui Fei's protection, and in a way, Rong Gui Fei is like his own mother. Which son would betray his own mother?

  Zhan Qingcheng withdrew her gaze from the window and looked down at her, a rare soft glow flashing in the depths of her eyes: "Human hearts are insufficient, who can guarantee that Feng Chenye won't betray Rong Gui Fei, who doesn't plan to support herself to power? In the palace, the cheapest thing is the emotions between people, do you understand?"

  Jiǔ yīn actually didn't want to understand, but she seemed to have understood anyway.

  In the struggle for power in the morning, emotions have always been the cheapest, and what is valuable is always interest.

  Rong Gui Fei had a son of her own and naturally wouldn't support Feng Chen Ye's ascension.

  Since Feng Chenye doesn't care about anyone, and he himself is not a possible heir to the throne, then he either forms his own faction to oppose other forces, or chooses the faction that benefits him the most, or remains neutral like now, without any affiliation.

  She didn't understand Feng Chen Ye, but looking at his lazy and arrogant appearance, it felt quite awkward for him to be subservient to a certain power.

  It's better to stay as I am now, being my own free and easy king, let them engage in their open and secret struggles.

  However, as the emperor's own son, he may also find it difficult to extricate himself from the imperial power struggle.

  Who else believes he really has no intention of taking the throne?

  Emperor Yongzheng was considered the most idle and neglectful of state affairs when he was still the Fourth Prince, who would have thought that he had been secretly developing his own power all along?

  Be always on your guard against potential dangers.

  She was a bit tired, and in the arms of Zhan Qingcheng, she changed to a more comfortable posture, with all her weight on him: "The harem of Dong Chu is like this, what about Xi Chu? Are the concubines and princes of Xi Chu also the same?"

  She leaned sideways in his arms, and the palm of her hand naturally fell on her waist, gently stroking it, saying lightly: "The harem of each dynasty is the same, nothing strange."

  "Palace," she closed her eyes, moved her body slightly, and opened her red lips to whisper: "If possible, don't get involved in it. The harem struggles and murders in TV dramas are bloodless... too scary..."

  His palm on her waist tightened, he stared at her slightly tired face, his thin lips pursed, but didn't speak.

  There are some things that don't need your participation, even if you don't fight or grab for anything and just want to live a quiet life, others won't let you pass through quietly on your own.

  The struggle in the harem is indeed a bloody fight without seeing blood. If possible, he would never want to participate for his whole life.

  ……

  After dusk, the convoy entered Chuyan Pass and stayed at the post station.

  Everyone packed their luggage and was busy for a while.

  Qing Yi instructed the servants to prepare the guest rooms for Feng Chen Ye and Jing City. Only after they had finished did the two of them leisurely enter their room to rest, with Jiu Yin naturally following Jing City.

  However, this time she was very clever. When the dinner was just served, she invited Xing Cheng to eat and sat down at the table without saying a word, gobbling up the food quickly and filling her not-so-large stomach to the brim in no time.

  As soon as she put down her chopsticks, she immediately heard Qingyi's voice coming from outside the door: "Jiuyin young lady, please go and attend to the prince having his meal."

  "Got it." Jiuyin took a handkerchief from beside him and wiped the oil stain on his lips, secretly pleased with his own foresight.

  After throwing a victorious "V" gesture at Zhan Qingcheng, she walked out the door with quick steps.

  Qing Cheng simply gazed at her slender back, a hint of surprise flickering in the depths of his eyes. Apart from not understanding the meaning behind her gesture, he was more taken aback by her optimistic demeanor.

  Jiuyin arrived at Feng Chenye's guest room, and he was still reading behind the desk.

  Actually, when the King of Yi is not speaking and is quiet, he really looks good, but when he looks at you with his cold eyes, you will always feel a chill run down your spine, just like Jiuyin now.

  She didn't know what it meant for Feng Chen Ye to look at her like that. Clearly, she had just wiped her face clean before coming over.

  She remained silent for a while, suppressing the unconscious fear that had arisen in her heart. She then put on a sweet smile and walked to the table to lift the lids of the dishes one by one. Afterward, she stood aside with her head bowed and said respectfully: "Your Highness, please have your meal."

  That attitude, the more gentle and reserved, the less clear it is, and people would even think she's a timid and cowardly woman with low self-esteem.

  But Feng Chenye knew she wasn't, and not only was she not timid, but also very bold.

  "Hasn't War and Conquest taught you any discipline?" He suddenly spoke up, his voice cold and detached, with a hint of superior authority.

  Jiuyin was taken aback and shook his head, saying, "No."

  It's really nothing, rather than intentionally going against him.

  Just serving him a meal, why so many rules? She thought she was already very careful, not even daring to touch the dishes.

  Suddenly her eyes lit up, she looked up at him and asked tentatively: "Is it... trying poison?"

  Feng Chenye didn't answer her question, but instead gave her a light glance, "Come and support Ben Wang."

  She cursed a few more times in her heart and, although she wasn't lame, she actually let him support her as they walked.

  However, all grievances left no trace on a bright and beautiful face, only a flattering smile.

  Jiuyin walked up to him with a somewhat slow pace, bowed elegantly and stretched out her small hand to support him.

  Feng Chenye really had to support her, like a cripple who couldn't walk. No, that wasn't right, she could walk, but her two legs were weak and powerless.

  Jiǔ yīn fú dé hěn shì xīn kǔ.

  Translation: The nine sounds are very difficult to learn.

  He was tall and big, about 1.9 meters, just like Jing Cheng, his whole body pressed against hers, almost crushing her flat.

  I recall that day when he helped me lift the city, he said, "There are servants to serve you, no need to exert yourself," indeed these big shots are used to ordering others around and didn't think about how heavy it was, probably more than twice her weight, how could she possibly carry it?!

  She really wanted to throw him out with her own hands, but she didn't dare.

  Qing Cheng said, don't provoke him, only by serving him well can she live a quiet life.

  "Your Majesty... the king, we've arrived." From the case table to the desk, it was only a dozen or so steps away, but she was already panting and covered in a thin layer of sweat.

  Feng Chenye lowered his eyelids and glanced at her, with no special expression on his face.

  It's just transferring a bit of weight from my body to hers, but I'm exhausted like this, it's simply weak and unbearable.

  He thought to himself, with her being so frail and weak, if she stayed by his side in the future, he didn't know if she would be able to live past twenty.

  He sat down on the chair and saw her standing beside him panting heavily. He suddenly raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, "Taste the poison."