Wutong was a determined person who knew exactly what she wanted. In modern terms, she was goal-oriented and self-driven.
All bosses appreciate self-driven individuals, and Su Fengyi was no exception.
Moreover, unlike the main characters who required her to expend effort scheming and striving to win over, both Wutong and Xie Xuan were her trusted aides.
One should not put all their eggs in one basket, nor place all their hopes on others.
Su Fengyi intended to win over the Shen family, but judging from tonight’s conversation, the Shen family was unpredictable, with many variables. How things would unfold when she encountered the male lead in the future remained uncertain.
Su Fengyi disliked the feeling of entrusting her fate to others and waiting for fortune to favor her. Rather than relying on others, it was better to cultivate her own team.
She needed to be prepared. Even without the Shen family, or worse, even if Shen He followed the main storyline and still sided with the male lead, she had to have the strength to prevent the male lead from rebelling.
Therefore, Wutong’s willingness to improve herself was a tremendous boon for Su Fengyi.
So Su Fengyi smiled and said:
“Since you wish to learn, I will ask Xie Xuan another day to see if he is willing to teach you. If he agrees, you shall become his disciple and learn these methods.”
Wutong thought to herself that with the Grand Princess’s command, how could Commander Xie refuse? She had never seen Commander Xie say no in front of the Grand Princess.
What had left her utterly helpless was resolved with just a word from the Grand Princess. Wutong was so overjoyed that she jumped up, expressing endless gratitude before respectfully taking her leave.
Su Fengyi then continued drawing the map of the Secret Treasure hidden in the Northern Barbarians’ underground palace.
The original book described it in words. Transforming the fragmented textual descriptions of the male lead’s route into a map, while also ensuring the accuracy of dimensions and distances, was quite laborious.
Su Fengyi drew, revised, and redrew, working late into the night. By the time Xie Xuan returned to the residence, she was just a few strokes away from finishing.
When Xie Xuan entered, Su Fengyi was putting the final touches on the map. Without looking up, she asked directly:
“Is it done?”
Xie Xuan replied succinctly:
“Your Highness can rest assured, it is done.
As Commander Zhu investigates further, he will discover that the mastermind behind today’s prison break is none other than the Factory Overseer. Both witnesses and material evidence are in place, with only one discrepancy.”
Su Fengyi set down her brush, examining the Secret Treasure map she had drawn, and smiled:
“One discrepancy? Commander Zhu is a capable man. I’m sure he will discover this discrepancy and continue investigating.”
Xie Xuan replied:
“Exactly. If Commander Zhu continues investigating, he will find that the truth behind the scenes is actually Eunuch Gao colluding with Vice Minister Liu, attempting to frame the Factory Overseer. The evidence is irrefutable.”
This was something Su Fengyi hadn’t anticipated. When Wutong uncovered that the informant was connected to the Liu family, Xie Xuan had already left the residence to handle matters. How did he know about Vice Minister Liu?
Su Fengyi scrutinized Xie Xuan carefully and asked:
“Vice Minister Liu? Why Vice Minister Liu?”
Facing the Grand Princess’s inquisitive gaze, Xie Xuan replied candidly:
“Liu An, Vice Minister of the Board of Revenue, is the uncle of Imperial Censor Liu Ci. The Liu family overstepped their bounds and offended the Grand Princess. Naturally, they are all wicked and deserve to die.”
Xie Xuan could still remember the grievances from ten years ago so vividly. However, this was a fortunate coincidence, hitting the mark by accident.
It was indeed Liu An, acting on King Pingliang’s orders, who was stirring trouble behind the scenes. Placing the blame on him was not unjust.
Xie Xuan handled this matter with both thoroughness and efficiency, perfectly meeting Su Fengyi’s needs.
Such a talented individual, yet he had been tucked away in her princess residence for six years as a personal guard—truly a waste of his abilities.
Among the royal personal guards, the Emperor’s guards were naturally sought after by everyone, as proximity to the Emperor meant opportunities for promotion and wealth if one performed well.
But a princess’s personal guard had no such luck. No matter how well Xie Xuan served as the Grand Princess’s guard, at best, he would only ever rise to the rank of guard commander in his lifetime.
As the Grand Princess, she had no authority to grant him official promotions or titles; at most, she could reward him with some silver or an extra dish or two.
Xie Xuan had originally been doing perfectly fine as a thousand-household officer in the Imperial Guard, diligently serving the Emperor. Who knows, he might have had the chance for a high promotion in the future, perhaps even becoming a commander. Yet now, after six years with the Grand Princess, despite his dedication and hard work, he had made no progress in his career—truly an injustice.
It was only Xie Xuan who could harbor no resentment. In the original story, even in his final moments before death, he fought to protect the Grand Princess.
If it were anyone else, having their future so abruptly cut off, who knows what kind of resentment they would harbor in their heart.
Relationships between people are best when they mutually support and uplift one another. Only through mutual support can they endure. Forcing one side to sacrifice and deplete themselves will inevitably lead to a falling out over time.
Su Fengyi looked at Xie Xuan:
“Xie Xuan, return to the Imperial Guard.”
For any other matter, no matter how bizarre or unorthodox—even if the Grand Princess wanted to rebel and become emperor—Xie Xuan would carry it out without question or hesitation.
But upon hearing the Grand Princess’s order to send him away, Xie Xuan was stunned for the first time. The command was so bewildering that he even forgot his manners and blurted out:
“Your Highness is sending me away… does that mean you have grown tired of me?”
Xie Xuan hadn’t suddenly learned six years ago that he would be assigned to the Grand Princess. From the moment the Grand Princess was born eighteen years ago, when he, at seven years old, entered the capital, he knew that his future hinged on the opportunity to remain in the royal household and serve the Grand Princess.
His entire life’s honor and disgrace would be tied to, and only to, the Grand Princess.
When the Grand Princess was born, the Grand Ancestor was overjoyed. After years of longing for a daughter without success, heaven had finally blessed him with a granddaughter as lovely as ice and snow, and the Grand Ancestor doted on her without bounds.
Every day, the Grand Ancestor would look at this tiny, soft, and adorable treasure, holding her in his arms, afraid she might fall, worrying that the sun might be too strong and melt her away. No matter how he looked at her, he feared she might be bullied when she grew up.
Other noble young ladies from prestigious families learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from a young age, following their mothers to learn household management.
But from the moment the Grand Princess could walk, she learned horseback riding, archery, and even martial arts from the Grand Ancestor. As a child, she was often taken by her doting grandfather to morning court sessions to build her courage.
The Grand Ancestor often told the Grand Princess:
“What’s so great about learning household management? Why waste time on that? Our Su family has conquered this land—how could my precious granddaughter ever lack for anything?
When it comes to household matters, just find yourself a good consort in your residence to manage them for you.
My granddaughter should learn how to protect herself from being bullied. If anyone dares to take advantage of you, no matter who they are, strike back fiercely. I’ll back you up.
Fengyi, remember this: at any time, in any matter, in this world, reason is not upheld by mere words—it is upheld by the blade in your hand.”
“Whoever holds the blade holds the truth. My Su family can lose anything, but never the blade. Do you understand?”
In other households, when a daughter is born, the first priority is selecting a wet nurse. But when the Grand Princess was born, the Grand Ancestor first chose for her a personal guard.
Xie Xuan was the blade the Grand Ancestor personally forged for her—a weapon loyal only to her.
Among all bonds, blood ties are naturally the strongest. After Su Fengyi was born, the Grand Ancestor decreed that talented young children from the Xie clan—the family of the then Crown Princess—be brought to the capital. The finest among them would be selected and trained by the royal family to serve as potential guards for the Princess of Ning.
The Grand Ancestor rose from humble origins. His eldest son’s marriage was arranged as a childhood betrothal before the Grand Ancestor’s rise to power—to the third daughter of the Xie family from the neighboring Xie Village, a genuine country girl from the rural countryside.