“Pei Du is not someone who can make decisions.” Yuan Fuyu’s eyes were frosty, her expression calm and devoid of emotion. “Why don’t you do the questioning, Minister Xie?”
Xie Huaizhou deeply disliked this… arrogant and condescending quality in Cui Siniang.
Even more, he disliked the controlling demeanor and mannerisms reminiscent of the Princess that she carried in her gestures.
As the lamplight flickered, Xie Huaizhou stood up.
His voice was soft and measured: “Lady Cui, your methods are remarkable. With one assassination attempt, you dragged Zhai Heming into this, forcing me to ensure your survival. The Golden Wu Guards seized your family members before the Mystic Eagle Guards could, so Zhai Heming had to guarantee their safety…”
The Golden Wu Guards captured the Cui Family’s eldest and second masters?
This must be Qiancheng’s doing.
“You overestimate me, Minister Xie. The Golden Wu Guards capturing my father and second uncle was truly unexpected. I had thought… it would be the Mystic Eagle Guards who took them.” Yuan Fuyu’s words were soft yet sharp. “That my father and second uncle’s lives are preserved is thanks to Minister Xie.”
In this game, the method of entry was determined by Yuan Fuyu…
But there were too many uncontrollable variables in how events unfolded.
Yuan Fuyu was no deity who could foresee everything. She only needed the final outcome to be what she desired.
To ensure the results aligned with her intentions, she needed thorough understanding of those she drew into her schemes, compelling them to act according to her design.
Take Qiancheng – he wasn’t foolish. Perhaps he suspected there were traps ahead when Yuan Fuyu and He Yichen sought his cooperation.
Yet for Madam Wei and his precarious future, he had to seize this opportunity.
Zhai Heming operated independently. While he lacked the strength to contend with noble families for power, he could challenge Xie Huaizhou, who wasn’t of royal blood – after all, Uncle Zhai had once fought alongside Yuan Fuyu to secure the empire and was the Emperor’s maternal uncle.
Yuan Fuyu went with the flow. Since it benefited Zhai Heming, he naturally wouldn’t miss this chance to shake the foundations of Xie Huaizhou’s power.
As for Xie Huaizhou, Yuan Fuyu never considered him someone who would passively endure attacks.
Thus, the capital’s waters were destined to be muddied.
They would all help confirm her identity as the Princess’s confidante.
Xie Huaizhou observed Yuan Fuyu’s lazy, arrogant posture, studying her as he calmly circled halfway around her…
“You set this scheme, using me and Zhai Heming to confirm your status as the Princess’s confidante, under the pretext of investigating the Princess’s death and seeking revenge.” Xie Huaizhou paced behind Yuan Fuyu, placing his hands on the armrests on either side of her chair, looking down at her. “Lady Cui… what exactly are you plotting?”
“My intentions have been clear from the start – I want the truth behind the Princess’s death.” Yuan Fuyu’s gaze followed Xie Huaizhou, watching the man who leaned beside her right side. “Whoever killed the Princess, I will take their life.”
“With what capability?” Pei Du asked sincerely, without mockery.
Xie Huaizhou glanced at Pei Du, who immediately pressed his lips together and retreated.
“I can borrow strength and influence – borrowing from Minister Xie works, borrowing from Uncle Zhai works too.” Yuan Fuyu’s smiling eyes held a familiar sharpness to Xie Huaizhou, both aloof and unyielding. “It depends on how you choose, Minister Xie.”
Xie Huaizhou couldn’t look away. Though he knew the person before him wasn’t her…
He was still captivated by the startlingly familiar spirit in those eyes.
Xie Huaizhou leaned in closer, his posture almost encircling Yuan Fuyu as he said, “The Princess’s death was orchestrated by the noble families, Wan Chunming, and Lu Pingxuan. This matter is now clear, and the guilty have been punished! He Yichen should also be aware of this.”
Yuan Fuyu neither avoided nor flinched, sitting steadily as she waited for him to continue.
“Now that the court has only just stabilized, General Zheng is about to lead an expedition against the Turkic tribes. The Turkic threat was the Princess’s greatest concern. As her trusted confidante, how could you stir up internal strife in the court at such a time? You leveraged the Princess’s influence to pursue…” Xie Huaizhou stared intently at the person before him, “…power.”
Yuan Fuyu lowered her left arm, which had been resting on the armrest, and shifted to support herself with her right elbow. Unhurriedly, she tilted her head upward, drawing closer to Xie Huaizhou…
Their faces were nearly touching.
Yet neither retreated even slightly.
Their breaths intertwined, both calm and steady.
A faint smile flickered in her eyes as her gaze swept over Xie Huaizhou’s lips, which she had kissed countless times. She drew even closer, meeting his gaze, her voice unconsciously softening: “Lord Xie now holds great authority, serving as the Imperial Tutor—also by leveraging the Princess’s influence. Since we both relied on the Princess, who is any nobler than the other?”
“For the sake of power, you would disregard the court’s impending campaign against the Turkic tribes and incite internal strife. If you were truly the Princess’s confidante, then you have betrayed her!” Pei Du exclaimed indignantly.
“Precisely…” Yuan Fuyu met Xie Huaizhou’s probing gaze with composure. “With the great battle imminent, whether the court remains stable depends entirely on whether I, the Princess’s confidante, can leave Lord Xie’s territory unscathed under the watchful eyes of all. It depends on whether Lord Xie or the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family can grant what I desire.”
“Then tell me, what does Lady Cui Si want?”
“After the Xiaoshi Bureau merges with the Mystic Eagle Guards under your jurisdiction, I want He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng to join the Mystic Eagle Guards, with He Yichen appointed as Deputy Director. I doubt anyone would object. This way, they can assist me in uncovering the truth behind the Princess’s assassination—whether it aligns with what you’ve claimed.”
“Agreed.” Xie Huaizhou agreed without even a moment’s hesitation.
Upon receiving his answer, a subtle, indescribable nuance flashed in Yuan Fuyu’s eyes.
She added, “The residences of Prince Xian and Anping Princess are guarded so tightly by the Mystic Eagle Guards that not even a bird could fly in. I must trouble Lord Xie to grant me permission to visit Prince Xian and Anping Princess at any time.”
“Anping Princess has withdrawn from the world to devote herself to Buddha, and His Royal Highness Prince Xian does not wish to see anyone. Allowing you to visit them at any time is impossible. However… I can attempt to arrange one meeting for you with Their Highnesses. Whether they are willing to see you afterward will be their decision.”
Yuan Fuyu had not expected Xie Huaizhou to agree so readily to this matter and failed to conceal her astonishment.
Seeing that Yuan Fuyu remained silent for a long while, simply staring at him fixedly, Xie Huaizhou asked again, “Is there anything else?”
“Zheng Jiangqing must take Su Ziyi with him on the expedition against the Turkic tribes.”
“Impossible.” Xie Huaizhou refused without a second thought, his tone light and casual. “The Princess wished for the remaining six of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards to live out their lives in peace. The battlefield is perilous—none of them shall go.”
Yuan Fuyu had already obtained what she wanted. As for having Su Ziyi accompany Zheng Jiangqing on the campaign, she had other avenues besides Xie Huaizhou.
“In that case, I have no further demands.”
Xie Huaizhou raised an eyebrow, equally surprised.
Surprised that this merchant’s daughter was not, after all, greedy.
Yuan Fuyu rose to leave, but Xie Huaizhou pressed his hand on her shoulder, forcing her back into the seat. “Since you are the Princess’s confidante—someone even Pei Du and He Yichen knew nothing about all these years—when did the Princess take you under her wing? What mission did she assign you?”