By handing the blueprints over to the eldest prince, Xie Jingyin was spared from keeping an eye on the Ling Prince's residence, thus diverting attention from the conflict.
The fact that the eldest prince could not keep the blueprints would not only tell the emperor that the eldest prince had limited abilities, but would also incite infighting between the eldest prince and the Prince of Jin. In order to prove himself, the eldest prince would spare no effort in investigating the corruption of the Xizhou Dam.
The Emperor had already sent the First Prince to see Xie Jingyan once, so it wouldn't be appropriate to do it a second time. If he wanted to get the blueprints and account books for the Xizhou case, he would have to agree to Xie Jingyan's conditions.
Such a win-win situation should not be wasted.
Soon, Shen Wan learned that the Empress Dowager had indeed spoken on behalf of Young Master Yun to the Princess of Yanping. The Empress Dowager was moved by the Yun family's sincerity, but as Xie Jingyan had predicted, the Princess of Yanping did not agree.
However, although the Empress Dowager's persuasion did not bring about the marriage, it was not entirely useless; at least it silenced many people's gossip.
Even the Empress Dowager was moved by the Yun family's sincerity and felt that the eldest young master of the Yun family was worthy of the Princess of Qinghe County. Those who opposed it must have been suspecting that the Empress Dowager was senile.
More importantly, the Crown Prince of Yanping couldn't escape the conflict with the son of Princess Huyang in his previous life and still accidentally killed someone. In order to save the Crown Prince of Yanping's life, the Yanping Prince's Mansion agreed to use the Yun family's death-exemption token as a betrothal gift. Even if the Empress Dowager wanted to put the Crown Prince of Yanping to death, she could not use the excuse that the royal family could not lower their status to oppose this marriage.
Xie Jingyan planned three steps ahead for every step he took, nipping any potential difficulties or obstacles in the bud.
Moreover, it wasn't just the Empress Dowager who tried to persuade Princess Yanping. Over the next two days, many members of the imperial family went to the Prince Yanping's residence to persuade the Prince and Princess Yanping. The Prince Yanping's residence was so bothered by the persuasion that they almost wanted to close their doors to visitors.
The Crown Prince of Yanping guessed that Xie Jingyan had helped him, so he came to his door.
Xie Jingyan was reading when the Crown Prince of Yanping stormed into the study, walked up to the desk, and said, "These past two days, so many people have gone to my Yanping Prince's residence to persuade my father and mother to agree to the marriage. Did you send those people?"
Xie Jingyan casually flipped through the book, "I don't have that much face."
One sentence almost choked the Prince of Yanping to death.
He knew, of course, that Xie Jingyan didn't have that much influence; those people all supported the First Prince.
But he knew that on the day the Empress Dowager summoned his mother to the palace, the eldest prince had visited the Ling Prince's residence and taken away a lot of things.
The Prince of Yanping said, "I always thought we were as close as brothers, how could you help Young Master Yun like this!"
Xie Jingyan looked up at the Prince of Yanping, "Even the Empress Dowager's persuasion is useless. No matter how many people go, they will only anger your father and mother and will not help Young Master Yun in his pursuit of Qinghe."
The Crown Prince of Yanping frowned. "You knew that, so why did you still do it..."
“Because I’m helping you,” Xie Jingyan said, emphasizing each word.
"..."
Are you kidding me?
Sending so many royal relatives to the Prince of Yanping's residence to persuade his father and mother wasn't helping Young Master Yun, but rather helping him.
The Crown Prince of Yanping looked at Xie Jingyan and said, "Do you think I'm that easy to fool?"
Xie Jingyan said, "No matter how many people go, the Prince of Yanping's residence should treat them well and not turn them away."
Prince Yanping, “…”
"Chen Feng, see the guest out."
Prince Yanping still had something to say, but Chen Feng had already come over. "Prince Yanping, please."
The Prince of Yanping was furious.
Considering Xie Jingyan's repeated instructions to stay away from the son of Princess Huyang, could it be related to this matter?
But he really, really had no conflict with the son of Princess Huyang.
However, Xie Jingyan's caution made the Prince of Yanping uneasy. He dared not disregard Xie Jingyan's words, nor did he dare not do as Xie Jingyan said. No matter how many people came to the Prince of Yanping's residence to persuade him, he greeted them all politely.
...
Shen Wan sat on the small couch, arranging the flower branches she had cut from the garden into a vase with great interest.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from the window, startling Shen Wan.
Yinshuang hurried to close the window and saw that the sky, which had been sunny and clear in the morning, was now covered with dark clouds, dark and gloomy, exuding a sense of oppression.
Yinshuang closed the window tightly and returned, saying, "The weather has changed too quickly. Luckily, the Princess went to the garden this morning. With this rain, she probably won't be able to go to the garden for two days."
As Yinshuang spoke, a maid's voice came from the courtyard outside, "It's raining!"
Silver Frost pushed the window by the corridor open a little and saw raindrops falling, quickly soaking the dry ground.
A gust of wind blew in, making the peony in Shen Wan's hand tremble. Yin Shuang quickly closed the window.
The rain was pouring down and showed no signs of letting up by evening. After dinner, Shen Wan had nothing to do, so she picked up her embroidery hoop to do some needlework. Just as she picked it up, Xie Jingyan took the hoop away, saying, "These tasks are done in the embroidery workshop. You don't need to bother with this."
...I don't know who asked her to embroider belts, purses, and brocade robes before.
Shen Wan said, "I'm not tired. I'm just doing some needlework to pass the time."
Xie Jingyan said, "If you're bored, I'll play chess with you."
Before Shen Wan could even agree, Yin Shuang had already diligently brought over the chessboard and pieces.
Although Shen Wan can also play chess, her skills are nowhere near Xie Jingyan's level. Isn't she just humiliating herself?
Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan and said, "I didn't play well, so you can't laugh at me."
"Okay, I won't make fun of you."
He smiled with a look of doting affection.
The two played chess while listening to the rain outside the window, and the candlelight inside flickered, a scene of peaceful tranquility.
Yinshuang and Haitang were sitting on a low stool making knots, whispering to each other when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Yinshuang quickly got up to open the door.
Looking at the chessboard where she had lost miserably, Shen Wan still wanted to make a last-ditch effort, but Yin Shuang rushed over and reported, "Your Highness, the Qin Prince's residence is on fire..."
Shen Wan, “…???”
How could the Prince of Qin's mansion have flooded on a rainy day?
Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan, "Could it be that someone took advantage of the rain and strong winds to burn down the Qin Prince's mansion and destroy the construction drawings and account books that the First Prince took from you?"
Shen Wan remembered that when Xie Jingyan let the eldest prince take the blueprints away, he said that the eldest prince couldn't protect the evidence.
When it's raining and damp, the fire can't spread, but once it starts burning inside the house, especially in the study, it's impossible to extinguish.
Even if the eldest prince could guess that Xie Jingyin would try to destroy the evidence and take precautions, he would still be less vigilant on a rainy day, which would allow Xie Jingyin to take advantage of the situation.
Xie Jingyan tidied up the chess pieces on the board and said with a smile, "Burning down the Qin Prince's mansion on a rainy day, this move was truly unexpected."
Although it was unexpected, it was all under Xie Jingyan's control. However, Xie Jingyin chose to use fire, which made it unclear whether he suspected that the burning of his Prince Jin's mansion was done by the eldest prince and was taking the opportunity to take revenge, or whether he wanted to frame the person who burned his Prince Jin's mansion...
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