Game
Xie Wuqi's awakening was like throwing a huge rock into a quiet pond, instantly changing the power structure inside and outside Prince Jing's Mansion.
Although he was still weak and needed to rely on the "Medicinal Rhythm" velvet flower and decoctions for conditioning, his phoenix eyes, which had regained their sharpness, had already indicated that the Prince Jing, who was once so powerful and feared by the enemy, was returning quickly.
The day after waking up, he ignored the advice of Jingzhe and the imperial physician, and forced himself to deal with several urgent military matters, making several decisive deployments. Orders were transmitted out of the palace through secret channels, like an invisible hand, quietly shifting the direction of the undercurrents in the capital.
The heavy haze that had shrouded the palace for nearly a month seemed to be torn apart by this sudden surge of strength. The servants unconsciously straightened their backs as they walked, and the panic in their eyes was replaced by a long-suppressed excitement. Only Butler Yan, despite his respectful expression, concealed a more complex caution in his eyes.
Xu Xianyue's pace of life remained unchanged. She continued to spend most of her time in the workshop, as if Xie Wuqi's awakening had little to do with her. That brief meeting in the East Wing that day, the words "each taking what he needs," had already drawn a clear line between the two of them.
However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.
That afternoon, Xu Xianyue was trying to incorporate the newly found "Jingxin Sandalwood" wood chips, which had a slight calming effect, into the velvet flower base when Jingzhe came again.
"Miss Xu," he said, his attitude more respectful than usual, even with a subtle hint of invitation, "The prince would like to ask you to come over. He has something important to discuss."
Xu Xianyue put down her tools and frowned slightly. Important matters? Apart from Xie Wuqi's poison and the tacit agreement, what other "important matters" could she and Xie Wuqi discuss?
She silently followed Jingzhe into the east wing again.
Xie Wuqi wasn't bedridden. Instead, he wore a dark robe and sat on a soft couch by the window. The afternoon sun fell on his still-pale face, outlining a deep, three-dimensional outline. It lacked the fragility of illness and instead evoked the profoundness and oppression of a superior. In his hands, he toyed with the "Medicine Rhythm" velvet flower, his fingertips casually brushing the petals. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto Xu Xianyue the moment she entered.
"Sit down." He raised his chin and pointed to the chair opposite.
Xu Xianyue sat down as he was told, his attitude still distant: "What are your instructions, Your Highness?"
Xie Wuqi did not answer immediately. He simply placed the "Yao Yun" in his hand gently on the low table between them. His gaze lingered on her calm face for a moment before he slowly spoke. His voice was hoarse from the injury, but it left no room for doubt: "Lin Qingyan, you must be rescued as soon as possible."
Xu Xianyue's eyes flickered slightly. She didn't expect that Xie Wuqi would come to her on his own initiative after waking up, and the first thing he would do would be this.
"Your Highness, do you have a good idea?" she asked.
"It's not a good plan." Xie Wuqi pulled the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of coldness. "The Crown Prince and the Third Brother are fighting fiercely right now, and it's a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters. Lin Qingyan's crime is not true to begin with. With proper operation, it won't be difficult to get him out. But..."
He changed the subject and looked at Xu Xianyue with a burning gaze: "I need a reason, a reason that can allow him to be released from prison in a dignified manner, or even... a reason that can make him more useful to me in the future."
Xu Xianyue instantly understood his intention. Xie Wuqi not only wanted to save people, but also wanted to use this opportunity to completely tie Lin Qingyan, the skilled imperial physician who had done him a favor, to his chariot.
"What does the prince want me to do?" she asked directly.
"Your velvet flower," Xie Wuqi pointed his fingertips at the "Medicine Rhythm" on the low table, his eyes deep, "can not only soothe the poison in my body, but it also seems to be effective for other agitated souls and restless minds?"
Xu Xianyue understood. He wanted to use the magical effect of the velvet flower to create a "reasonable" opportunity for Lin Qingyan's release from prison and even his subsequent attachment.
"Maybe." She hesitated, "It depends on the specific circumstances."
"Very good." Xie Wuqi seemed very satisfied with her answer. "Three days later, the Queen Mother will hold a small flower viewing banquet in the palace. It's called a flower viewing banquet, but in reality it's to comfort the royal family members who have been anxious recently due to the fight between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. At that time, you will enter the palace with me."
Xu Xianyue raised her eyes, a hint of surprise finally flashing across them. Enter the palace? Let him?
"Your Highness, my status is awkward. I'm afraid entering the palace..." She tried to refuse. The palace was a place with strict rules and many spies. She didn't want to get involved any further.
"Precisely because of her 'awkward' status, she must go." Xie Wuqi interrupted her, his tone carrying an irresistible force. "Princess Jing made her first official appearance, showing concern for the Queen Mother's health, presenting a carefully crafted tranquilizing velvet flower, and bringing a moment of peace to the chaos in the palace... This reason is enough for many people, including His Majesty and the Queen Mother, to temporarily ignore everything else."
He looked at her, his gaze like an invisible net. "And if this velvet flower happens to be effective for a nobleman who is cherished by His Majesty or the Queen Mother but has suffered mental damage for some reason... then wouldn't it be natural for Imperial Physician Lin, who recommended this flower and whose superb medical skills can further improve the nobleman's health, to have his sentence expunged and his position reinstated?"
Xu Xianyue fell silent. Xie Wuqi's plan was a tightly knit affair, seamlessly weaving together her velvet flower, Lin Qingyan's medical skills, the palace's needs, and the current situation at court. He not only wanted to save her, but also to use this opportunity to clearly push both her and Lin Qingyan to his side, declaring their "value" and "belonging" to everyone.
This was a naked exploitation and a conspiracy that she could not refuse.
If she wants to save Lin Qingyan, if she wants to continue to stay safely in this palace and in this capital, she must cooperate with him and step onto the stage he sets.
The tranquility of the workshop is ultimately a luxury.
She raised her eyes and met Xie Wuqi's determined eyes. Her cold face was expressionless. After a long while, she slowly said, "Which noble does the prince want me to 'present flowers' to?"
Xie Wuqi's lips curled up into an expected smile, knowing that she agreed.
"Grand Princess Rong'an." He uttered a name.
Xu Xianyue's heart trembled slightly. Princess Rong'an, the present emperor's aunt, held a high position. In her youth, she held some military power and possessed a strong character. However, in her later years, she was deeply traumatized by the untimely death of her only son. She became depressed and suffered from palpitations and nightmares, becoming a difficult problem even for the imperial physicians. If any relief could be found for her symptoms, the impact would be self-evident.
"I need to first understand the details of the Grand Princess's symptoms and her daily preferences." Xu Xianyue quickly got into the state, his tone calm as if discussing official business.
"Jingzhe will give you all the information." Xie Wuqi was satisfied with her cooperation and efficiency. "Can you be ready within three days?"
"Sure." Xu Xianyue answered firmly. Time was running out, but she had no choice.
"Very good." Xie Wuqi looked at her, his eyes moving between her clear and focused eyebrows, and suddenly said, "After this is done, what do you want?"
Xu Xianyue was about to get up and leave when she paused. She turned back to look at him, her eyes calm and composed. "Your Highness said before that we should each take what we need. I will help Your Highness achieve what you wish for, and Your Highness will ensure that I have a peaceful place here. We owe nothing to each other."
She once again emphasized the concepts of "each taking what they need" and "no one owes anyone anything," clearly defining the relationship between the two at the level of transaction and cooperation, and not allowing any additional involvement or ambiguity.
Xie Wuqi's eyes darkened slightly. He stared at her for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. The meaning of the chuckle was unclear: "Xu Xianyue, you always draw the boundaries so clearly."
"Only with clear boundaries can things last long." Xu Xianyue responded calmly, kneeling slightly. "If there is nothing else, Xianyue will take my leave. You need to prepare the velvet flowers immediately."
After saying this, she did not linger, but turned and left, her back still straight and proud.
Xie Wuqi watched her disappear at the door, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the warm petals of "Yao Yun", his eyes changing with changes.
Clear boundaries?
He wanted to see how long this boundary could be clearly defined.
Xu Xianyue returned to the workshop and immediately began conceiving and crafting a new velvet flower. Princess Rong'an...she possessed a distinguished status and had experienced many hardships. The velvet flower she desired had to be both worthy of her status and possess a strong calming effect.
She abandoned all complex and ornate designs and decided to use bamboo as the shape. Bamboo, elegant and noble, would rather break than bend, and its cool nature has a calming effect, which perfectly suits the eldest princess's strong and traumatized state of mind.
She selects the finest black jade silk as the primary material, incorporating trace amounts of finely ground sandalwood shavings and amber powder. Silver threads outline the bamboo joints and leaf veins. She immerses herself in the weaving process, the rhythm of her fingertips no longer simply soothing, but imbued with a sense of resilience and protection, guiding the medicinal properties and the spirituality of the material itself into a perfect fusion.
This time, the creation was even more demanding than "Medicine Rhythm." She worked almost non-stop, her eyes fixed on the gradually taking shape of the solitary, upright, and graceful black bamboo.
The three-day deadline is coming soon.
When a black bamboo velvet flower with distinct bamboo joints, well-arranged leaves, and a faint exudation of clear sandalwood fragrance and warm luster appeared before his eyes, even Xu Xianyue himself could feel the quiet and powerful soothing power contained in it.
She carefully placed the black bamboo velvet flower into a specially made brocade box.
The palace gate is as deep as the sea.
Is this trip a blessing or a curse? Is it a further step into the cage, or an opportunity to break the impasse?
She doesn't know.
But she knew that the silk thread in her hand had paved the way for her.
No matter how dangerous the road ahead is, she must go and try it.
For Lin Qingyan's life and for her own sake, she had to fight for a chance of survival in this gaming arena.
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