“It is naturally the truth; however, this matter requires careful, long-term planning.”
Xie Ning was waiting for an opportunity. Looking at Xiao Rong, she asked, “May I venture to ask Her Highness the Eldest Princess, what is His Majesty’s current stance regarding the marriage between the Crown Prince and me?” Xiao Rong’s delicate brows moved slightly, and just as she was about to utter a few ambiguous words to gloss over the topic, Xie Ning suddenly bowed, “I ask Her Highness the Eldest Princess to tell me the truth this is extremely important to me.”
At that very moment, a sudden shock rippled through the depths of Xiao Rong’s heart it felt as though Xie Ning could see right through her!
Meeting Xie Ning’s unruffled gaze, the Eldest Princess felt a surge of unprovoked, defensive annoyance. At this moment, the feeling Xie Ning gave her suddenly overlapped with the Xie Ning from that day at the villa, who had groggily called out “Changyi” as if being the most intimate yet most distant coexisted within a single person!
Xiao Rong remained silent for a long while, startled by this sudden impression of being “most intimate yet most distant” that had popped up in her mind. So much so that she could not help but recall the nightmare she had experienced on the day of the palace banquet. Given how much she had cared about Xie Ning in that dream, calling it “most intimate yet most distant” was by no means an exaggeration; but but that was merely an unfounded, inexplicable nightmare after all!
Caught between shock and doubt, a spark of irritation flared within the Eldest Princess, yet she forcefully suppressed her emotions, deciding to speak the truth—at this point, Xiao Rong possessed an intuition that she must treat Xie Ning with total candor. It felt as though if she were to deceive or try to trick Xie Ning with clever ploys, an outcome she did not desire would occur—even though the Eldest Princess had no idea what kind of outcome she actually desired.
“Imperial Father’s intention is that because Marquis Xie has already passed away, the Xie family not only has no successors behind them, but their backing is completely empty as well; there is no longer any need to match you with the Crown Prince. However, a few days ago, Imperial Father had explicitly conveyed this intention to Marquis Xie, and your mother was aware of it as well. Imperial Father worried that a helpless widowed mother and orphaned daughter like you two might raise a fuss, which would create a bad impression; thus, he intended to grant you the title of side consort. If you firmly decline and refuse to accept it, that would actually align best with Imperial Father’s true wishes.”
Xie Ning let out a long breath of relief.
It was indeed as she had expected. As Xie Yuanshan’s appendage, the only reason she had caught the Emperor’s eye was merely as a means to win over a key minister.
After all, though the Emperor was the master of the realm, this realm did not belong to the Emperor alone. In the capital city alone, there were two major prominent families the Yan clan and the Lu clan standing as a tripod alongside the imperial Xiao clan. Though they dared not usurp the imperial authority, they possessed enough strength to pose a threat to the Emperor. Furthermore, there were powerful regional families, led primarily by the Chen clan of Jiangnan; though they appeared loyal on the surface, how could the Emperor be unaware of their secret collusion behind the scenes?
It was precisely under such circumstances that Xie Yuanshan a loyal minister with no background, elevated single-handedly by the Emperor—was held in high regard. To put it bluntly, Xie Yuanshan belonged to the Emperor’s sphere of influence; he was not only fiercely loyal to the Emperor but also capable of waging war to defend the borders for him. Most remarkably, Xie Yuanshan’s loyalty was crystal clear, never colluding with other factions this very uprightness and honesty made the Emperor favor him all the more.
The Emperor intended to use the opportunity of rewarding Xie Yuanshan to show all talented and capable people across the realm whom they should truly align with to gain genuine benefits.
However, Xie Yuanshan was now dead.
With Xie Yuanshan’s death, this signboard lost its subsequent utility. The Emperor could reluctantly bestow Xie Ning upon the Crown Prince as a side consort, but after all, the positions for the Crown Prince’s side consorts were limited. To female dependents like Xie Ning, it was merely a matter of marriage; yet to men like the Emperor and Xie Yuanshan, what appeared to be a marriage was in fact a division of power. Previously, intending to make Xie Ning the Crown Princess was to give Xie Yuanshan a pill of reassurance, telling him that a share of the realm belonged to him. That was the Crown Princess very likely the future Empress a glory and favor sufficient to make Xie Yuanshan shed his blood for the Emperor! Not only that, it could greatly inspire other capable people in the Great Sheng Dynasty who were taking a wait-and-see attitude; with Xie Yuanshan as a living signboard, the Emperor had no fear of failing to recruit people.
Yet, never in a million years could anyone have expected that Xie Yuanshan would die so abruptly and carelessly! There were not even any traces of interference from the Yan or Lu families; every sign indicated that Xie Yuanshan’s death was actually just an accident!
This was already enough to make the Emperor vomit blood in frustration. However, Xie Yuanshan’s family dependents could not be ignored. Yet, these dependents were no longer of much use; the Emperor needed to scout new candidates and perform a fresh division of power. Although the Emperor possessed immense rank and weight, seemingly the preeminent ruler under Heaven, the actual scope of power he could control was far too small compared to the scope he actually wished to control! Therefore, every single division and delegation of power had to be weighed with utmost caution, aiming to exchange the smallest amount of power for the greatest possible return! The position of the Crown Prince’s side consort was also a minor division of power, an important vehicle capable of signaling an insider status. Though this power was small, it could not be treated carelessly; after all, there was only one Crown Prince, and the wives and concubines he could wed were limited. Rather than giving it to Xie Ning, it was better to give it to someone more useful.
Xie Ning originally would not have understood these principles the twists and turns were far too complex to be summarized in a few words. Yet in her past life, she had been subtly influenced by staying by Xiao Rong’s side, and because she had genuinely devoted her entire heart to Xiao Rong, racking her brains to smooth the furrows on Xiao Rong’s brow, she had unwittingly mastered the subtle nuances of court power struggles long ago.
Thus, after her rebirth, she was no longer as naive as in her previous life, believing that begging someone could save her. No—if she wanted to break the stalemate, she had to break it from the very root!
Hence, the instant she opened her eyes, she already understood: to save herself, she had to commit patricide!
In this Great Sheng Dynasty, both she and her mother, Li Wan, were Xie Yuanshan’s appendages. As long as Xie Yuanshan lived for even a single day, they could only be disposed of at his whim, and the whole world would take it for granted. Countless pressures would trap the mother and daughter underfoot, stepping on them so firmly that they could not move an inch, needing Xie Yuanshan’s permission even to catch a breath!
Only when this so-called “principal,” Xie Yuanshan, died could Xie Ning, the former “appendage,” gain room to breathe!
She had achieved it. Today, receiving the Eldest Princess Xiao Rong’s answer fully validated the correctness of Xie Ning’s decision. Her countenance suddenly turned radiant; her originally cold and sharp brow and eyes now seemed like spring snow thawing, exuding a sense of bright brilliance. The spirited vitality and elegance between her brows momentarily left Xiao Rong spellbound!
“My marriage is in no hurry; I have a scheme that I wish to present to Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to listen?”
Xie Ning tilted her head slightly without bowing, yet the depths of her eyes were far more lively. Her heroic eyebrows arched upward, and a smile of relief hovered at the corners of her lips, captivating Xiao Rong so much that her eyes glistened, unable to tear her gaze away, “Minister Xie may speak freely.”
Yet Xie Ning’s originally vivid expression suddenly stiffened; her heart skipped a beat momentarily at the form of address “Minister Xie,” forcing her to purse her lips and slightly avert her gaze from Xiao Rong.
“I recall that Your Highness keeps a few male consorts in your residence”
Certain memories flooded out uncontrollably—it was the sensation of the Eldest Princess’s snow-white, delicate skin pressed against her own—
“If you do so firstly to blind the eyes of others, and secondly to tarnish your own reputation”
In her memory, Xiao Rong’s jet-black, smooth long hair spread across Xie Ning’s chest like silk
“This method, however, is inappropriate “
Xiao Rong still carried the lingering aftermath of passion, the scent of lovemaking mingled with her orchid fragrance, as if the entire world had been claimed by Xiao Rong—
“Tarnishing your reputation might cause you to lose favor with His Majesty, making future actions disadvantageous”
Yet Xiao Rong’s slender, fair fingers tapped gently against Xie Ning’s forehead, half-reproachful and half-teasing
“Furthermore, raising forces through male consorts ultimately binds your hands too much, leaving you constrained and unable to stretch your wings; it would be far better to—”
“Minister Xie sure has great capability~”
That melodious, moist tone seemed to echo beside her ears once again, nearly making Xie Ning forget what she was about to say.
“Minister Xie? Xie Xie Ning!” Xiao Rong changed her form of address, interrupting Xie Ning’s daze. “Far better to do what?”
Xie Ning raised her eyes to look at Xiao Rong once more. The person before her still possessed a face as white and flawless as a bright moon, gentle slender brows, an enticing lip peak, and eyes that naturally carried a thread of romantic charm, making it easy for anyone to sink into them.
And that faint, subtle orchid fragrance
Xie Ning suddenly felt an immense irritability, uncomfortable all over, as if being burned by fire, yet simultaneously immersed in ice water. Though her heart was freezing cold to the core, her mind felt uncontrollably feverish.
Heat could not possibly be real heat, of course. In this freezing midwinter weather—even past the twelfth lunar month, with the Lantern Festival yet to arrive, the winter snow unthawed, and frost covering the ground where could any real heat come from?
“It would be far better to use the women of various noble families as a breakthrough point. Rather than secretly cultivating male consorts, why not openly socialize with the ladies of various families? Inevitably, these women will sooner or later become titled ladies or noble wives of some household. If you encounter one or two formidable ones, manipulating their husbands’ households is not out of the question. If formidable women are few, why shouldn’t Your Highness cultivate more formidable women yourself? Besides, nothing in this world is less conspicuous than women. If you secretly keep male consorts, no matter how covertly you act given your status, people will pay extra attention; but if you socialize more with women, even if you discuss a great deal, those men will only assume you are young women being intimate, unworthy of concern. Even if you cultivate an army of women to march right up to the imperial court hall, those men who have never taken women seriously in their eyes will still assume you are merely causing a minor ruckus, fragile and easily defeated. But is that truly the case? Your Highness, there are not only men in this world, but also another half consisting of women. There are countless women who possess both ambition and bold strategy just like you their pearls are merely covered in dust, urgently awaiting someone to wipe them clean!”
Xie Ning finished in one breath, not even looking at Xiao Rong’s reaction. Right now, she felt as if fire and ice were merging within her; her mind was making rational arguments, yet her heart felt as if it were being seared by flames. “Perhaps my marriage is precisely an opportunity,” in her past life, it was precisely because of marriage that she was forced to enter the Institute of Fine Arts, gaining an understanding of the children of noble families. Although she did not yet know how to execute it specifically, Xie Ning knew that having a pretext could gather these people together, “It is just that I have not yet thought of how to do it specifically.”
Finally finishing her thoughts, Xie Ning let out a huge sigh of relief. The clash between rationality and emotion finally reached its peak, forcing Xie Ning to make a flustered, early exit, “Your Highness, I suddenly feel unwell and will not see you off. Farewell!”
Xiao Rong was still deeply shocked by her words; before she could react, Xie Ning had already taken large strides far away. Even when Xiao Rong reached out her hand wanting to pull her, Xie Ning twisted her waist to dodge it, leaving the Eldest Princess all alone both immensely shocked and at a loss whether to laugh or cry!
“This person ” How could someone utter such earth-shattering ideas on one hand, while fleeing like a flustered deserter without looking back on the other? Xiao Rong gazed unblinkingly in the direction she had departed, unable to refrain from softly calling her name, “Xie Ning…”
An indescribable surge of emotion abruptly welled up and circled in her heart an emotion so unfamiliar that even the Eldest Princess, who had always taken pride in her strategic planning, felt unsettled by it. It was as if every bit and piece since they met had gathered into a single point, dropping heavily onto the tip of Xiao Rong’s heart like a thick stroke of ink.
Unplucked by anyone, her heartstrings vibrated on their own.
She could hardly suppress the surge in her heart. Though the Eldest Princess did not possess such a marvelous idea like Xie Ning’s, Xie Ning’s method seemed to part a corner of the clouds, acting like a guide fallen from the heavens. In particular, this utmost sincerity and genuine heart offered up moved Xiao Rong deeply; she was certain that Xie Ning was precisely that dust-covered pearl, urgently awaiting her own wiping and care!
Yet this dust-covered pearl always exuded a faint, deliberate air of detachment—allowing her to draw near, yet refusing to let her get too close. The Eldest Princess’s heart beat extremely fast for a moment; facing Xie Ning was like facing a mysterious riddle, making her unable to resist wanting to approach and explore.
Xiao Rong reached out to cover her uncontrollably racing heart, as yet unable to comprehend what this intense impulse truly was. She merely developed a strong desire—a thought that crept out from the depths of her heart simply and directly, clamoring with extraordinary clarity: She wanted Xie Ning!
Whether out of cherishing talent, a desire for conquest, or whatever other messy reasons, beneath those layers of concealment lay her yearning for Xie Ning! Just like in the dream—