Chapter 198 Tongjia Clan: They're all on our side

After the nanny's reminder, she became extremely wary of Li Guiping, even wishing she could get rid of her as soon as possible.

But now…

Tongjia slumped back onto the couch, her eyes shifting uncertainly.

When she first entered the palace, didn't she also have the ambition to replace the empress?

But the two resounding slaps from the Queen had already shattered all her pride and illusions.

Shortly after, his most trusted nanny died of an unexplained illness.

It also taught her the insidious and ruthless methods of the imperial harem.

Even with her illustrious family background and being the emperor's cousin, she might not receive the slightest leniency from her rivals.

Those who understand the times are wise, and even if she, a member of the Tongjia clan, was not the best, she still understood this principle.

She no longer intended to be an enemy of the Empress; she only sought to survive peacefully under the Empress's rules, or even...

Using Li Guiping, we can get rid of these two thorns in our side, the Wuya clan and the Qijia clan.

The Empress has always turned a blind eye to palace intrigues, as evidenced by the incident at Yonghe Palace.

Anyone with eyes could see it was a covert attack, yet the empress raised it high and then gently brought it down.

Why not just make Qi Jia pay compensation and let it go?

It is evident that the Empress did not offer any special protection to the Uya clan who had sought refuge with her.

As long as the Empress's bottom line isn't crossed, she seems genuinely happy to just watch the show.

Why not use Li Guiping to convey the intention of submission and in return for the Empress's leniency?

After all, the days of being constantly humiliated and challenged by the Empress were truly unbearable.

This way, we can both get the Empress to back down and achieve our goals through Li Guiping's methods. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

Once this idea takes root, it grows wildly like weeds, and the more you think about it, the more feasible it seems.

Without further hesitation, Lady Tongjia called out.

"Someone come here!"

A young eunuch bowed and entered.

Tongjia looked at him and clearly gave the order.

"Go and invite Li Guiping to this princess."

"Yes, sir."

The young eunuch accepted the order and quickly withdrew.

Tongjia sat back on the couch, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees.

He calmly looked towards the palace gate, waiting for Li Guiping's arrival.

This time, Li Guiping was no longer an enemy she needed to guard against, but a sharp blade that she could use.

All she had to do was show obedience and compliance to the knife's owner.

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Before long, steady footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

Li Guiping bowed as he entered the bedchamber, his expression calm and composed, as if he were simply responding to a routine summons.

He bowed respectfully, his voice neither too loud nor too soft.

"This servant, Li Guiping, greets Your Highness. May I ask why Your Highness summoned me here?"

Tongjia spoke, her voice carrying a deliberately gentle tone.

"Please rise, Eunuch Li. There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for such formalities."

"Gege Xie".

Li Guiping straightened up, still slightly bowing, his attitude respectful but without a trace of flattery.

There were only the two of them in the bedroom.

She took a deep breath and decided to get straight to the point, adopting an unprecedentedly humble attitude.

“Eunuch Li is a smart man, so I won’t beat around the bush.”

She looked at Li Guiping, her tone tinged with self-deprecation and helplessness.

"I have invited you here today because I have a request to make, and I also intend to surrender."

Li Guiping slightly raised her eyelids, a fleeting look of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Your Highness is too kind. This servant is foolish and does not know what Your Highness means by surrendering. As for making requests, Your Highness is of noble status, and if you have any orders, this servant will do his best."

Seeing that he was pretending to be stupid, Tongjia was not angry. On the contrary, she felt that he was calm and composed and was more capable of being used.

She gave a wry smile, no longer maintaining that false pride.

"Why ask such a question when you already know the answer? In this Chengqian Palace, who doesn't know that you are a trusted servant of the Empress? When I first entered the palace, I was young and impetuous, and I didn't know my place. I offended the Empress in many ways. Now that I think about it, I really shouldn't have done that. After all these days, I've come to understand that in this harem, to be an enemy of the Empress is no different from throwing an egg against a rock."

She paused, observing Li Guiping's reaction. Seeing that he remained unmoved, she continued.

"This princess has no other wish than to live peacefully in Chengqian Palace from now on. If Her Majesty the Empress would not abandon me and I could occasionally receive some protection, I would be extremely fortunate. As for those Wuya and Qijia..."

When these two names were mentioned, a flash of hostility crossed Tongjia's eyes.

But his tone was much gentler, even carrying a hint of negotiation.

"These two, one arrogant and disrespectful because of the Empress's influence, and the other like a mad dog repeatedly attacking, are making this princess very uneasy. The Empress governs the six palaces and is very busy, so she probably doesn't have time to pay attention to such trivial matters. Eunuch Li, you have been in the palace for a long time and have a wide network of connections. You must also have some methods."

She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and her words were quite explicit in their implication.

"If you, my lord, can help me deal with these two troublesome matters and prevent them from causing any more trouble... I, and the entire Tongjia family, will remember your kindness. From now on, within Chengqian Palace, you will be like my right arm. I will provide you with whatever you need, without hesitation. If you ever encounter any inconvenience while you are away, the Tongjia family will also be willing to make arrangements for you."

These words were almost a heartfelt confession.

This not only demonstrated their willingness to pledge allegiance to the Empress, but also provided specific tasks as a pledge of loyalty and promised generous rewards.

She stared intently at Li Guiping, waiting for his response.

Li Guiping remained silent for a moment, his face still expressionless, but a hint of understanding flashed in the depths of his eyes.

He bowed slightly, his tone remaining steady.

"Your Highness flatters me. I am merely the head eunuch of Chengqian Palace. My duty is to manage palace affairs well for Your Highness and to make Your Highness comfortable and at ease. As for anything else... I am but a lowly person and dare not speak presumptuously, much less overstep my bounds."

His words were perfectly worded, neither agreeing nor refusing.

They didn't even directly address any specific matters concerning the Queen and those two men.

Tongjia's heart sank, thinking he was making excuses, and she was about to increase her offer.

But Li Guiping changed the subject slightly and continued.

"However... since Your Highness intends to express your feelings to Her Majesty the Empress, this servant may convey it on your behalf. As for the affairs of the palace, ups and downs are commonplace. If some people act improperly and violate palace rules, they will have their own karmic retribution. Your Highness only needs to be mindful of your duties and observe the situation calmly. Her Majesty the Empress is wise and discerning, and has always been lenient towards those who are law-abiding."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at Tongjia for the first time, his gaze calm yet carrying a strange strength.

"If Your Highness truly desires peace and stability, the most important thing is not to eliminate anyone, but rather... to avoid committing any wrongdoings. This servant has said all I have to say. If Your Highness has no further instructions, this servant will take his leave now, as there are still some trivial matters in the front hall that require my attention."

After saying this, he bowed again, his posture respectful, yet carrying an undeniable distance.

Tongjia looked at him, speechless for a moment.

Li Guiping's words were like a wad of cotton, causing all her prepared attacks to fall flat.

He didn't accept her deal, but it seemed... he made some kind of promise?

He was willing to convey the message of surrender.

This also implies that if Uya and Qijia bring trouble upon themselves, they will inevitably face their own downfall.

All she needs to do is remain blameless and wait for the right opportunity?

This was not the immediate agreement she had envisioned, but it was by no means a complete rejection either.

Seeing Li Guiping's unyielding attitude, she knew that saying anything more would be pointless.

He could only suppress his resentment and doubts and wave his hand.

"Thank you for your trouble, sir. I will remember your words. You... may leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant takes his leave."

Li Guiping bowed again and steadily withdrew from the sleeping quarters.

The palace doors closed again, and Lady Tongjia sat alone on the couch, pondering Li Guiping's words.

Although the desired outcome could not be achieved immediately, at least... the passage has been opened?

As Li Guiping stepped out of the hall and into the shadows of the corridor, he left.

A barely perceptible, faint smile curved at the corners of his lips.

If Lady Tongjia wanted to surrender, would he just agree to it so easily? The Empress is watching.

Is this something he can decide?

That would make things ambiguous!

As for his claim that there is cause and effect, it seemed to Tongjia Shi that it was just an excuse to appease her.

She never considered that after being ambushed like this, how could Wuya let it go?

Wuya will definitely get back at Qijia's debt with interest; she just needs to wait and see the two fight.

But looking at Tongjia, her youthful face was full of confusion.

It's as if she can't even see through the most basic interests; I have to say, sometimes she really is a bit... stupid?

He looked up in the direction of Kunning Palace, and had already made up his mind that he should send a message to his master tomorrow.