latelenovela Chapter 288: Continue to win over Chen Zigui
Chapter 288: Continue to win over Chen Zigui
Cen Jiexiao silently repeated these six words over and over, trying to find a clue. "Zhen... Zhen... What exactly does this word refer to?" Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed her mind, illuminating all the mysteries. Could "Zhen" refer to the reigning general, the Empress's father, He Zhenting? The He Zhenting, feared at the border and renowned for his military exploits?
If "Zhen" refers to He Zhenting, then what about "Qi"? Cen Jiexiao's mind raced, all sorts of possibilities flashing through her mind. Qi... Qi... Could it be referring to... Prince of Yan, Chai Zhengqi? The Prince of Yan, Chai Zhengqi, who had been ousted from power by the Queen Mother's faction?
Thinking of this, Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but gasp, and her blood seemed to freeze. If her speculation was correct, then the meaning of these two words together was extraordinary.
He Zhenting and Chai Zhengqi—these two names constantly collided in her mind, stirring up waves of anxiety. She finally understood the Emperor Chai Zhen's true intentions. On the surface, the Prince of Yan had been expelled from the center of power and seemed to have lost his power, but in reality, that was not the case.
Free from the surveillance and control of the Queen Mother and her party, the Prince of Yan was like a bird of prey that had escaped its cage, regaining his freedom and free to develop his power more freely. He was like a tiger that had returned to its own mountains and forests, free to fully display his talents, accumulate strength, and bide his time.
Combined with the alliance with General He Zhenting, this force will become even more powerful, and even the Queen Mother, with 700,000 imperial guards at her disposal, will not dare to ignore it. This is a force that can overturn the court and change destiny.
Chai Zhen's plan, like a chess game played in the dark, was both ingenious and treacherous. He was playing a tactic of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly attacking Chencang"! He needed Cen Jiexiao to continue lurking by the Queen Mother's side, like a sharp blade lurking in the enemy's heart. Once the Prince of Yan and the general were ready, they would work together internally and externally to overthrow the Queen Mother in one fell swoop!
Thinking of this, Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but feel a wave of fear. This move was truly risky. If she wasn't careful, she would lose everything and be doomed. She was like walking on a tightrope, a single misstep would send her plummeting into the abyss, shattered to pieces.
Yu Lan had been paying attention to Cen Jiexiao and was keenly aware of the changes in her mood.
"Dean, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?" she asked with concern, her tone full of worry.
Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.
"It's okay, let's go back." She answered calmly, not wanting to make Yu Lan worry.
After returning to her quarters, Cen Jiexiao lay awake all night. She tossed and turned in her bed, her mind racing. Chai Zhen's plan was bold, but also fraught with risk. What if it were to be exposed? How would she escape? What would happen to her family? What would happen to Chen Zigui?
She kept thinking about her next plan, her heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness. She knew that the days ahead would be even more difficult, full of challenges and dangers. The sky gradually brightened, and a faint light came through the window.
In the next few days, Cen Jiexiao felt like she was walking on the edge of a knife, taking every step carefully, fearing that she would make a mistake.
She played the role of a loyal pawn beside the Queen Mother, serving her daily, observing her words and expressions, trying to figure out her intentions. She forced a smile, doing everything she could to please the Queen Mother and gain her trust, like dancing on the edge of an abyss.
Every morning, she would carefully examine her face in the bronze mirror to ensure that there were no flaws.
She practiced various expressions, including joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, and they had to be just right so that the empress dowager would not notice anything.
At the same time, she also had to secretly collect intelligence information, record the empress dowager's movements, plans, and the subtle relationships between ministers in the court in detail, and then find ways to pass it on to Chai Zhen.
Sometimes, she would hide intelligence in embroidery threads, sometimes she would write it on specially made stationery and send it out through special channels. This was like groping in the dark; the slightest mistake would expose her identity and lead to eternal damnation.
This life of a double agent exhausted her both physically and mentally.
At night, she often found it difficult to fall asleep, tossing and turning, her mind racing. She worried about her identity being exposed, about the people around her being implicated, and even more so about Chen Zigui's safety.
She felt like a butterfly trapped in a spider's web. The more she struggled, the tighter she became. But she didn't dare slack off, because she knew she had a heavy responsibility on her shoulders and she had to persevere.
One day, the Queen Mother suddenly summoned Cen Jiexiao, saying she wanted to discuss an important matter with her. Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened, and a sense of foreboding came over her. She sensed that a storm was coming.
The Queen Mother dismissed her attendants, leaving only Cen Jiexiao alone. Inside the palace, the atmosphere was heavy, as if the air itself had frozen. The Queen Mother gave Cen Jiexiao a meaningful look, her gaze as sharp as an eagle's, seemingly able to pierce through people's hearts.
The Queen Mother spoke slowly, "I know that you have a close relationship with Inspector Chen." These words exploded in Cen Jiexiao's ears like thunder, shocking her.
Cen Jiexiao tried hard to control her emotions and not let her inner panic show.
She remained expressionless and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have previously told you that I only occasionally discuss academic matters with Master Chen. We are merely friends and colleagues, and I would not dare to claim a close relationship."
The Queen Mother chuckled softly, her tone coaxing. "I know you're an intelligent woman, and I understand Inspector Chen's loyalty. But the court is so volatile right now. If you choose the wrong side, you could be shattered to pieces."
Cen Jiexiao lowered her eyes to hide her uneasiness. She understood that the Queen Mother was trying to win her over, or more accurately, to use her to win over Chen Zigui.
"I know that Inspector Chen is a rare talent. If he can be used by me, I will definitely not treat him unfairly." The Queen Mother continued, with unquestionable majesty in her tone.
"Go and persuade him to understand the principle of a wise bird choosing the right tree to inhabit. I will naturally ensure that he enjoys a life of wealth and glory, and that he realizes his ideals and ambitions."
Cen Jiexiao's heart was in turmoil. How should she respond? Refusing would undoubtedly anger the Queen Mother, with disastrous consequences. Agreeing would be like throwing Chen Zigui into the fire.
Just when Cen Jiexiao was in a dilemma, the Queen Mother suddenly walked up to her and spoke in a tone as cold as an ice knife in the cold winter, piercing people's hearts: "Remember, this time it was the Prince of Yan, so who will it be next time?"
Fine beads of sweat oozed out of Cen Jiexiao's forehead, one by one, popping up like bamboo shoots after the rain, sparkling with tiny lights under the dim palace lights.