LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 3:
Chapter 3: I Never Had Evil Intentions
“Father!” Qin Yue stood angrily in front of the hotpot table, glaring at the relaxed Qin Yu, stomping her foot hard. “What do you mean by this?”
“What do I mean?” Qin Yu didn’t even lift his head, focusing on swirling the beef in the hotpot. “Just what it sounds like. If you want to marry, then marry.”
“Father, don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning,” Qin Yue bit her lip and stared fiercely at this suddenly unfamiliar father. She knew his character too well—always forceful, never backing down. How could he possibly agree so easily?
“Do you think that by acting like you’re giving in, I’ll be grateful and start obeying you? Or are you trying to make me feel guilty so that I’ll give up on Pei Lang myself?” she sneered.
“Oh?” Qin Yu finally looked up, amused. “You’ve given me a good idea.”
“Father!” Qin Yue’s face turned red with anger. “Can’t you just leave me alone? I know Pei Lang’s family background isn’t impressive, but he’s truly talented! He said that once he passes the imperial exams, he’ll—”
“Enough,” Qin Yu interrupted her with a wave of his hand. “If you want to marry, then marry. I won’t stop you. I’ve made my point, it’s up to you.”
Qin Yue froze.
She had prepared a long argument to fight her father, but his strange attitude left her at a loss.
“I… I don’t believe you agreed so easily!” she said stubbornly. “You must have some hidden plan!”
Qin Yu focused on his hotpot and sighed inwardly.
In his previous life, he tried everything to block this marriage, yet it only led to his daughter stabbing him through the heart.
In this life, it was better not to interfere.
Let her go. Consider it repayment for his past mistakes.
“Believe it or not, it’s up to you,” he said indifferently. “This is your choice. Whether it brings fortune or disaster has nothing to do with me.”
“Fine! Very fine!” Seeing his nonchalant attitude made Qin Yue even angrier. “Then just wait and see! I will marry Pei Lang, and we’ll live happily! I’ll prove it to you!”
“Go ahead, go ahead,” Qin Yu waved his hand lazily. “Next time you come, bring that Pei fellow along to try some hotpot.”
Qin Yue didn’t expect her father to say that. She stood stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly and ran out.
“Master…” Huo Mu watched Qin Yue’s retreating figure, hesitating to speak. “The Princess’s attitude is really…”
“What attitude?” Qin Yu smiled and placed a piece of meat into Huo Mu’s bowl. “She’s just a kid. It’s normal to be willful.”
“But Master,” Huo Mu grew anxious, “over the years, you’ve suffered so much for her sake, all for her good. Yet now that you’ve given in, she’s even more—”
Huo Mu shook his head angrily.
As Qin Yu’s personal guard, he had watched Qin Yue grow up.
He knew how much effort the Master had poured into her all these years.
“Enough,” Qin Yu poured himself a cup of wine. “Young people always think their choices are right. Let’s talk about something happier.”
He changed the subject, “Where do you think we should open our hotpot restaurant?”
“Master, are you serious?” Huo Mu still looked worried. “You are the Eighth Prince. Wouldn’t opening a shop damage your reputation?”
“You,” Qin Yu chuckled and tapped him on the forehead. “Still so rigid. Look how delicious this hotpot is. If we open a restaurant, more people can enjoy it. Isn’t that a good thing?”
Seeing his master’s relaxed demeanor, Huo Mu felt more at ease too.
Thinking for a moment, he suggested, “Maybe near the academy on the west side of the city. Lots of scholars there. They love spicy food. Business should be good.”
“Good idea,” Qin Yu’s eyes brightened. “We should even think about creating new flavors.”
“His Majesty arrives!” the shrill voice of the eunuch announced before Qin Yu could say more.
Qin Yu smiled faintly.
She came faster than expected. It seemed Yun Moxian couldn’t sit still either.
“Your Majesty,” he stood to greet her.
Yun Moxian walked in gracefully, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe.
“What is this…” Yun Moxian’s phoenix-like eyes flashed with surprise when she saw the hotpot on the table.
“Would Your Majesty like to try some?” Qin Yu smiled warmly. “This is a traditional Qin family hotpot recipe.”
Yun Moxian smiled slightly. “When did the Eighth Prince develop an interest in such commoner fare?”
“People change,” Qin Yu said meaningfully.
Yun Moxian directly took out a stack of documents and handed them to him. “Yes, people do change. Look at these.”
Qin Yu took the documents, and immediately frowned.
Every piece of evidence pointed at him as the mastermind behind Princess Yong’an’s poisoning—flawlessly arranged, without a single hole.
He couldn’t help but secretly admire it. Whoever had laid out such a scheme inside the palace was truly skilled.
“Well? The evidence looks perfect, doesn’t it?” Yun Moxian narrowed her eyes at him.
“Indeed, very perfect,” Qin Yu put down the papers and asked calmly, “So, Your Majesty believes it was me?”
“If I believed this evidence,” Yun Moxian said as she elegantly sat down, “I wouldn’t have come to find you personally. Anyone capable of setting such a trap inside the palace is far more dangerous than the Eighth Prince.”
Qin Yu looked at Yun Moxian’s calm and composed expression and understood instantly.
This woman who ruled the empire for twenty years certainly didn’t rely on luck.
The evidence was too perfect—so perfect that it seemed deliberately staged.
“Your Majesty has keen eyes,” he complimented as he poured her a cup of tea. “The person behind this not only wants to harm Yong’an, but also aims to sow discord between us. Their methods are truly brilliant.”
“Exactly,” Yun Moxian picked up her teacup and looked directly at him. “I want to join forces with you. Your forces outside the palace might come in handy.”
Qin Yu was briefly stunned.
This woman was as swift and decisive as ever.
But since she had spoken so openly, there was no need for him to hide either. “I do have some resources.”
Yun Moxian seemed slightly surprised by his straightforwardness.
It seemed… this man had truly changed.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then it’s settled. This matter is extremely important. I hope the Eighth Prince will give it his utmost effort.”
“Rest assured, Your Majesty,” Qin Yu smiled. “I also want to find out who dares to pull such tricks right under our noses.”
“By the way,” he added, “in the coming days, I would like to claim illness and not attend court. I hope Your Majesty will excuse me.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Moxian naturally understood.
This Eighth Prince intended to use the time to thoroughly investigate the mastermind behind the scenes.
The two shared a knowing smile.
Both were seasoned veterans in palace intrigue—no need for many words.
As Huo Mu cleaned up the hotpot mess, Qin Yu leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, resting.
Today had brought too many visitors. He hadn’t even managed to finish his hotpot properly.
“Master, shall I reheat it?” Huo Mu asked.
“Forget it,” Qin Yu waved his hand. “Today felt like a market day—just sent away Yun Moxian and—”
Before he could finish, another announcement came from outside: “Consort Xiao and Princess Yong’an are here!”
“See? Here comes another wave,” Qin Yu smiled helplessly.
As soon as Princess Yong’an entered, she sniffed the air and exclaimed, “Grandfather, it smells so good!”
Without waiting for Consort Xiao to react, she rushed straight into Qin Yu’s arms.
“Eighth Prince,” Consort Xiao stepped forward and greeted, her voice sincere but tinged with guilt. “About today’s incident, it was my misunderstanding. I was foolish to accuse you. I’ve come specially to apologize.”
“Consort, you’re too polite,” Qin Yu said, holding Yong’an affectionately. Looking at the innocent little girl in his arms, his heart softened.
“If I had a child poisoned, I would have reacted even more strongly. But let me make one thing clear—I have never had, nor will I ever have, any evil intentions toward Yong’an.”