Back in Qiang, Father's favorite daughter was Jiang Wanyan.
Jiang Wanyan had been a smart and beautiful girl since she was young. She had many strange ideas and ideas that could always make King Qiang happy.
Jiang Wanyan knew since she was young that her father wasn't the only one. However, in her memory, her father treated her differently than his other siblings.
If she stirred up any trouble, Father would laugh and say she was a clever and mischievous person.
If someone else caused trouble, Father would scold them angrily.
Perhaps it was because of this difference that Jiang Wanyan felt that her father was even more special to her.
When he was a little older, Jiang Wanyan was able to scout out a lot of things from the various courtyards in the Imperial Palace.
She was good at climbing trees and hiding in the grass. The court ladies and eunuchs of every palace gathered together to talk about their masters when they had nothing to do.
Today, Chen Xianfeng had an extra pair of earrings, and tomorrow, Zhang Meimei was rewarded with a pair of bracelets.
She knew that there were many secrets in the Imperial Palace of the State of Qiang, and there were also many small dark rooms that Jiang Wan Yan had visited.
There seemed to be many sealed secrets in the palace. Everyone knew that she was the most beloved princess of the King Qiang, and no one would dare to say a single word to her even when she was rampaging through the palace.
However, Jiang Wanyan loved to eavesdrop on secrets that nobody knew about. These people all had their own selfish motives, she was just like a bystander watching the life of others. This kind of feeling made her feel very comfortable.
The first time she met the Minister of Rites, Li Zhi, was when she was thirteen.
She had snuck out of the hall to peek, and was caught by Li Zhi who was only half a head taller than her. At that time, Li Zhi did not know who she was, and thought that she was the unsensible little maid.
Jiang Wan Yan made a face at Li Zhi, but didn't explain his identity. He just wanted to see where Li Zhi was taking his to.
At that time, Li Zhi was still an elegant young man who came here to listen and learn.
He guarded Jiang Wanyan until the next court and even personally led her to meet the King Qiang.
After the King Qiang heard this, he laughed out loud. It was only then that Li Zhi realized that Jiang Wan Yan was actually a princess.
At that time, Jiang Wanyan had been thinking, how could there be someone as foolish as Li Zhi? After that, Jiang Wan Yan would always run forward. She loved to cause trouble to talk to Li Zhi, and Li Zhi would always teach her a lesson in all seriousness: "Your Highness, this is not the place to talk."
At that time, Li Zhi liked to stand by the tree under the porch and read a book. Jiang Wan Yan already couldn't remember a lot of details, she only knew that Li Zhi had always been very courteous to her and never got angry at her.
A sudden illness had taken away Li Zhi. During that period of time, Jiang Wanyan had always been standing at Li Zhi's position, guarding the tree where he was reading. However, Li Zhi had never appeared again.
At that time, she asked her father: "Why is Li Zhi gone?"
Her father gently told her, "He was taken away by the heavens to another place."
"Can I still see him?" Jiang Wanyan felt a bit sad. This was her first time going through such a farewell experience, but she still didn't understand why the heavens took her somewhere else.
Her father patiently explained to her, "I won't be able to see him anymore. He's already gone."
Only then did Jiang Wanyan understand. So the heavens had taken someone away from her, and she was someone you would never see again.
Li Zhi was taken away by the heavens, and as expected, she had never seen that man who made her speak in a soft voice again.
Jiang Wanyan covered herself in the blanket and refused to go out. Her memory was not good, and she couldn't recall these things at all. However, she unexpectedly recalled this matter.
After Li Zhi, Jiang Wanyan had witnessed the death of too many people. However, those people were very far away from her, and she did not even know the names of those people.
The Heavens were truly tyrannical. It would always take people away for no reason, and then, there would never be a single trace of that person left in this world.
And now, the heavens had taken away his royal father, the one who would always forgive her mistakes, the one who would explain to her with a gentle smile that she did not understand, the one who would come to see her even when she was completely red from quarreled with him.
In this vast sea of people, she would never see it again.
Jiang Wanyan's tears had already dried. It was impossible to describe her current mood, she could only feel helpless.
With such an unexpected turn of events, the country of Qiang had already cut off her last path of retreat.
Su Muchang said that her royal father was assassinated, then why did he announce his death?
Jiang Wan Yan had no way of knowing the reason behind this; she would not be able to return to Qiang. Right now, the only ones left were the Queen Mother and her younger brother who were struggling to survive; they had no idea how difficult Qiang was.
Could the State of Qiang live a peaceful life without its king? Jiang Wanyan did not know that she had smelled something very unusual from this matter.
Chen Zhaoyang said that it was impossible for the Xia Kingdom Emperor to not know the secret of Qiang. In that case, wouldn't the secret of Qiang be enough for the Xia Kingdom Emperor to deal with her own Royal Father?!
Jiang Wanyan did not know that she had no relationship with anyone in the Xia Kingdom. The only person she could rely on was Su Mu Qing.
She had been shut in her room all night. She had not slept all night, her eyes stung with pain, but she was not sleepy.
She knew that Su Mu Qing must be not far from her room. She knew that Su Mu Qing treated her extremely well. She also knew that it was useless for her to be trapped like this.
But she had suddenly avoided it, even if it was just for a short period of time. She wanted to live a peaceful life.
However, the cause of her father's death had yet to be determined, and all sorts of strange things had yet to be explained. If there really was someone plotting murder, could she just stand by and do nothing? No, she must take revenge!
Once she decides to leave this room, she will be strong, her. She no longer had a father or any backing. She still had to protect her little brother and mother.
She. And scared.
He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to protect what he wanted to protect. He was afraid that in the end, it would all be in vain.
She suddenly had a strange feeling. It was as if she was the same as Su Mu Qing and had lost her loved ones. She suddenly understood Su Mu Qing's feelings back then. What kind of courage did she need to have to face him?
Su Mu Qing had done well, and Jiang Wan Yan hoped that she could do well too.
She stuck her head out of the quilt, and the light from outside shone through the crack in the door.
Jiang Wanyan gently lifted up her blanket and rubbed her stinging red eyes. She took a deep breath and got off the bed to put on her shoes, preparing to leave.