The two stayed at the Princess’s Residence for two days before setting off to visit the venerable Prime Minister Gao at the Gao Manor.
The carriage proceeded slowly.
This was Di Shengyue’s first visit to the old Prime Minister Gao in both her lives, and she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
She had only ever heard that Prime Minister Gao was a serious and stern man.
Xiao Yinxue was used to seeing Di Shengyue look calm and composed; this was the first time she had seen her so apprehensive, which she found quite amusing.
“Shengyue, are you nervous?” Xiao Yinxue teased.
“Naturally, I am,” Di Shengyue nodded and said, “That is your grandfather.”
Xiao Yinxue reached out with her index finger and gently lifted Di Shengyue’s chin, raising an eyebrow as she said, “Then let this Princess see just how nervous you are?”
Di Shengyue grabbed her index finger and used the momentum to pull Xiao Yinxue completely into her embrace, letting Xiao Yinxue’s head rest against her chest: “Princess, listen. Only matters concerning you can make my heart beat this fast.”
“Always speaking such sweet words, aren’t you ashamed.” Listening to the beat of Di Shengyue’s heart, Xiao Yinxue’s own heart seemed to be affected and gradually sped up.
A blush appeared on her cheeks.
“There are no outsiders here,” Di Shengyue chuckled softly.
Xiao Yinxue seemed to possess a calming magic; just speaking with her for a short while, Di Shengyue felt the tension in her heart dissipate considerably.
Xiao Yinxue propped herself up against Di Shengyue’s chest with both hands, raised her head, and said rather proudly, “If you serve this Princess well, this Princess will offer you some guidance.”
“Yes, guidance like this?” Di Shengyue’s smiling eyes glanced downward, looking at Xiao Yinxue’s hands.
Following Di Shengyue’s gaze, Xiao Yinxue saw the position of her own hands, and feeling the softness beneath her palms, her cheeks immediately turned bright red.
She quickly withdrew her hands.
A trace of cunning flashed in Di Shengyue’s eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly as she took the opportunity to lean in close.
She moved next to Xiao Yinxue’s ear, gently blew a puff of air onto her sensitive ear canal, and whispered in a low voice, “Well, Princess, what kind of service would you like?”
The warm breath on her sensitive spot made Xiao Yinxue shrink her neck slightly, and her earlobes reddened.
Di Shengyue was really good at taking advantage!
“This Princess wants to eat walnuts,” Xiao Yinxue pointed casually at the walnuts on the table and said, “Peel them for me.”
“As you command, my Princess.” Di Shengyue smiled affectionately and let go of Xiao Yinxue.
She picked up the nutcracker on the table and seriously began to crack the walnuts for Xiao Yinxue.
Watching Di Shengyue earnestly peeling the walnuts, Xiao Yinxue suddenly found this version of Di Shengyue even more charming.
Di Shengyue looked up and saw Xiao Yinxue staring intently at her. She couldn’t help but smile, “Princess, are you lost in thought looking at me?”
“Hmph, who was looking at you?” Xiao Yinxue pouted and said, “I was just checking how well you were peeling the walnuts.”
Upon hearing this, Di Shengyue presented two perfectly peeled walnut halves to Xiao Yinxue with both hands and said, “Princess, are you satisfied?”
Just as Xiao Yinxue was about to reach out for them, Di Shengyue withdrew her hand.
She picked up one of the walnuts and brought it to Xiao Yinxue’s mouth, saying, “Since the Princess wants me to serve her, I must see it through to the end.”
Xiao Yinxue looked at the smile in Di Shengyue’s eyes and felt there was a hint of mischief in them.
She opened her mouth and bit the piece of walnut meat Di Shengyue offered. The walnut was crisp and delicious. As Xiao Yinxue chewed a few more times, her soft, moist lips lightly touched Di Shengyue’s fingertip, stirring up a sense of intimacy.
“Princess, you have crumbs on your lips,” Di Shengyue said, her rough thumb ambiguously stroking Xiao Yinxue’s lips, creating a tingling sensation.
Xiao Yinxue felt her cheeks gradually heating up.
“I, I won’t eat anymore,” Xiao Yinxue pushed away Di Shengyue’s hand, avoiding her fiery gaze.
“Princess, you still haven’t offered me any guidance,” Di Shengyue refused to let Xiao Yinxue look away, cupping her chin with one hand to make her face her.
The carriage made a creak sound as it stopped.
“Th-this Princess is not satisfied!” Xiao Yinxue dared not meet Di Shengyue’s eyes, and practically fled the carriage.
If she stayed with Di Shengyue any longer, her face would be completely red.
Di Shengyue watched Xiao Yinxue’s hurried retreat and smiled faintly; Xiao Yinxue’s shy demeanor was truly adorable.
Gao Manor
“Princess, the Master has prepared your favorite Furong Cake. Please proceed to the main hall first,” the steward bowed to Xiao Yinxue and said, “The Master has some things he wishes to discuss privately with the Imperial Son-in-Law.”
Xiao Yinxue instinctively looked at Di Shengyue.
“Princess, it’s all your fault for not wanting to guide me earlier,” Di Shengyue said, holding her soft, delicate hand.
Xiao Yinxue mumbled in a low voice, “This Princess didn’t know Grandfather wanted to see you alone.”
“If I upset the Prime Minister later, the Princess must take responsibility,” Di Shengyue chuckled, lightly kissing the back of Xiao Yinxue’s hand, and said, “No matter what, I will never leave the Princess.”
Xiao Yinxue’s face flushed hot once again.
She said shyly, “You, you go quickly.”
Di Shengyue curled her lips and followed the steward to meet Prime Minister Gao.
Prime Minister Gao received her in the study.
Just as she had imagined, Prime Minister Gao looked very solemn. Although over fifty years old, he didn’t appear to be sickly as rumored; his spirit looked excellent. Especially his pair of sharp eyes, which carried the wisdom to see through everything.
Just looking into those eyes, Di Shengyue felt as if all her secrets were laid bare.
Prime Minister Gao remained silent for a long time, merely observing Di Shengyue with a scrutinizing gaze.
Finally, he spoke, “Power and beauty, which do you desire more?”
“I want beauty,” Di Shengyue paused, then looked at Prime Minister Gao with determination, “I also want power.”
“Still young, after all,” Prime Minister Gao shook his head and said, “Too greedy.”
“If I wish to progress hand-in-hand with Yinxue, immense power is necessary,” Di Shengyue’s eyes held profound seriousness. “A status like Yinxue’s means she is destined not to live an ordinary life. If I don’t have power, how can I protect my wife?”
When she spoke the word “wife,” Di Shengyue’s eyes immediately softened, carrying a hint of tender affection.
Prime Minister Gao said lightly, “So you chose to rely on the Third Prince?”
Di Shengyue shook her head. In just a few words, she discerned Prime Minister Gao’s concern for Xiao Yinxue, so she had nothing to hide: “Relying on others is far inferior to having ultimate power yourself.”
Prime Minister Gao’s gaze towards Di Shengyue changed abruptly.
“You have enormous audacity!” he suddenly shouted sternly. “Do you know that speaking such words is a capital offense!”
“Doesn’t the Prime Minister harbor such thoughts in his heart?” Di Shengyue looked directly at Prime Minister Gao and retorted, “The Empress died unjustly, the Emperor is incompetent, and the Princess is weak and defenseless. If she doesn’t possess great power, how can she protect herself?”
She never wanted to experience the helpless loneliness of the prison cell in her previous life again.
By saying these words to Prime Minister Gao today, she was gambling, betting that Prime Minister Gao shared her mindset.
She had earned great military achievements, and the Emperor feared her and sought to eliminate her. How much more so the Empress, who was renowned and whose merits overshadowed the sovereign’s?
When the Empress was alive, who didn’t praise her?
Prime Minister Gao did not speak, but in his dark, profound eyes, Di Shengyue saw a ripple of emotion.
“Li Zhengping, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is my protégé,” Prime Minister Gao threw this statement at Di Shengyue, then left the study.
Di Shengyue bowed, a look of contemplation in her eyes.