Chapter 125: He probably doesn't want to bring up these embarrassing things with you either. ...
After finishing reading Wei Xueyu's side story, Xie Yunying finally remembered the plot she had previously skimmed through: "Oh right! I almost forgot. I was quite surprised when I read this part. I didn't expect that from Wei Xueyu's perspective, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince had a pretty good relationship when they were young."
"At the time, I wondered if the author had made a mistake. If they were so close, why did Wei Jing later force Wei Jing to abdicate and even kill Wei Ye?"
System: "They were just kids back then. A lot of things change as they grow up. The innocent friendships of children are the most genuine, but also the most fragile."
"When people are immersed in supreme power for too long, they become less human. Throughout history, very few emperors and powerful ministers have been able to avoid being corrupted by power."
Xie Yunying: "This eldest prince is something else. Their conversation is so strange." Anyway, she couldn't understand what they were saying.
System: "Although the former Crown Prince Wei Changqiong is not mentioned much in the original book, I always feel that his shadow is everywhere."
The death of the former crown prince marked the beginning of Dongxi's downfall. It was a major turning point in the fates of all the main characters in the book, and it also gave rise to many key events that propelled the subsequent plot forward, leading almost everyone to an irreversible and tragic end.
"If he were still alive, perhaps the story in this book would not have happened, and the heroine would not have had to sacrifice herself to save the world."
But this is the most meaningless assumption, because Wei Changqiong is already dead.
Xie Yunying flipped through the book. "System, there are still dozens of blank pages at the end."
After some research, the system concluded: "It seems this isn't the last side story."
"What's the meaning?"
System: "Master, this is just a guess. Since the first side story appeared suddenly, and there are so many blank pages at the end of the book, it might mean there is more than one side story. Although it is currently blank, perhaps one day new side story content will suddenly appear. You can keep an eye out for it."
Xie Yunying: "...Okay, thankfully I don't have to follow the main storyline anymore." Otherwise, she would be really worried to death right now, feeling utterly hopeless and on the verge of collapse.
Besides, what can a simple and honest college student like her do to compete with these powerful figures?
......
In one more day, Yue Yining would officially take up her new official post. That afternoon, a rare guest arrived at the Princess's residence, specifically requesting to visit her.
When Yue Yining heard that the visitor was Xie Yunying, the second young lady of the Xie family, she was somewhat surprised and had someone quickly invite her in.
Xie Yunying stepped into the hall, her figure light and graceful, like a long, bright red spear.
Unlike the other young ladies from noble families that Yue Yining had met, Xie Yunying rarely wore dresses. She always wore a collared, narrow-sleeved robe, trousers, and short boots. She was slender and capable, and with her thick eyebrows and bright eyes, she always made people wonder if she was some handsome young man from a wealthy family.
"Miss Xie," Yue Yining greeted her, her voice light and cheerful. "It's been so long since I've seen you."
"Why did you suddenly decide to come looking for me today?"
Xie Yunying feigned awkwardness and complained slightly, "Who told you to never come to see me? If I don't come looking for you and just wait for you to remember me, who knows when that will be?"
Yue Yining gently replied, "Please forgive me, Miss Xie. I always have things to do; I didn't mean to avoid you."
"...I didn't say I was going to blame you."
Xie Yunying and Yue Yining chatted for a while, and then Fu Yao brought tea leaves, teaware, and spring water. Yue Yining personally brewed tea for Xie Yunying, who sat beside her, resting her chin on her hand and watching her movements.
She remembered that the original book did not overemphasize Yue Yining's appearance. What impressed her most was Yue Yining's simple blue and white robe that remained unchanged from beginning to end, and the line "Standing like green bamboo bearing frost and snow, walking like a white egret skimming the cold shore."
But when she actually met Yue Yining, she felt that this short poem was too shallow and simple, far from being able to encompass the complex and rich character of her. Just as a painting cannot depict the misty rain of Jiangnan as seen by the eyes, a few thin and pale words cannot sculpt her rugged spirit.
Gentleness is her sharp edge, strategy is her blank space.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xie Yunying tried to get to the point: "I heard you got promoted recently, and I was thinking of giving you a gift, but I don't have anything valuable on hand. I've been looking for a long time but I still don't know what to give you. I was thinking that maybe it would be best to just ask you what gift you want and find something for you."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Miss Xie." Yue Yining placed the teacup in front of her and smiled. "I don't care about these things. Besides, I've already received many promotion congratulatory gifts recently. I don't lack anything to begin with, and now I'm overflowing with things. If Miss Xie gives me anything else, I'll hardly be able to use it."
"I see." Xie Yunying changed the subject. "Did my older brother send any congratulatory gift?"
Yue Yining's movements slowed noticeably for a moment; she paused, probably thinking about how to respond.
When she spoke again, even Xie Yunying couldn't detect anything unusual: "Why did you suddenly bring him up?"
Xie Yunying: "By the way, my older brother always talks about you, so he must know you quite well. The gift he gives you might be more to your liking. I was thinking of asking if I could take a look."
"...He often talks about me to you?" Yue Yining keenly caught a few key words. "How did he talk to you about me?"
Xie Yunying: "He told me to learn more from you, saying that you are knowledgeable and erudite. Others compile books and history by picking up scraps of others' ideas, but the official documents you approve can be used as rubbings in the Imperial Archives. If I praise someone as better than you in front of him, he will definitely argue with me and criticize me for my poor judgment, saying that I can't distinguish between pearls and mud."
"Over time, I realized that in his eyes you are the best, and no one else is as good as you. He also cannot tolerate anyone else saying a bad word about you in front of him."
Yue Yining's wrist, holding the teapot, froze in mid-air, the water droplet from the spout snapping with a "plop" in the center of the cup. The splashed tea fell onto the vermilion seal on the official document, staining the character "准" (approved) into a bloody mole.
Xie Yunying kept stealing glances at Yue Yining's expression while drinking tea, and naturally did not miss her reaction when she heard these words.
After a moment of stunned silence, Yue Yining placed the teapot on the table, covered her mouth and coughed lightly, "So that's how he sees me. I... I've never heard him say that before."
That's a huge exaggeration, isn't it?
Xie Yunying: "Yes, but the longer I spent with Yue Daren, the more I realized that what he said was absolutely right. And he also told me—"
Yue Yining couldn't stand being praised to her face, especially such exaggerated praise. Xie Yunying didn't stop at all, her mouth opening and closing and chattering on and on.
Yue Yining touched her ear, looking a little embarrassed.
Xie Yunying changed the subject, "Speaking of my older brother, he hasn't been doing very well lately. He doesn't smile much anymore, and he seems to have something on his mind. He's always in a very low mood."
"But when I asked him, he wouldn't say why."
Yue Yining: "...He's not feeling well?"
"Yes, yes, you look terrible, like you're sick."
Yue Yining lowered her eyes and didn't reply for a moment. Xie Yunying secretly observed her expression and waited patiently for her.
“…Second Miss.” Yue Yining raised her eyes again and looked over. She said softly, “I want to ask you a question, which may be a little offensive.”
Xie Yunying quickly replied, "How could I be offending you? We're friends."
"Ask whatever you want, don't worry about these rules and regulations."
Yue Yining nodded slightly: "Okay."
“I’ve heard that the Second Miss and Lord Xie have a close relationship. After all, you are siblings who grew up together, so you must know each other best,” Yue Yining said slowly. “Excuse me for speaking frankly, but Lord Xie once confessed something to me. He said that he had been missing for half a year and was only found and returned to the Xie family at the beginning of the year. During that time, the Xie family told everyone that he was just bedridden.”
"What I want to ask you, Miss, is whether you think Lord Xie's temperament and habits have changed since he returned to the Xie family?"
Xie Yunying was stunned.
She didn't even have time to think about why Xie Qingyu would reveal such a crucial secret to Yue Yining, because alarm bells were already ringing in her mind.
Xie Yunying: "Wait! Why would she ask me this kind of question? Could it be that Yue Yining discovered that 'Xie Qingyu' has been replaced?!"
System: "As expected of the female lead, so perceptive."
Xie Yunying: "No, then how should I answer???"
If she accidentally lets slip any crucial information and ruins Xie Qingyu's plans, he will definitely not let her off easily!
The problem is, she doesn't know what she can say and what she can't say!
System: "Good luck, dear."
Xie Yunying: "..."
In Yue Yining's view, Xie Yunying was clearly hesitant.
That's almost an answer.
Yue Yining said softly, "Second Miss also feels that Lord Xie has changed somewhat compared to before, is that right?"
Xie Yunying: "Holy crap! How am I supposed to explain this?!"
System: "Good luck, host."
no!
The fact that Xie Qingyu had been replaced can be exposed, but it absolutely cannot be exposed through her, otherwise she will surely be purged by that petty man in the future!
She has to find a way to cover it up!
Xie Yunying pulled her brain, which was stuck together with a layer of glue, shook it clean, and reassembled it, trying to get it working again: "Hmm... indeed, my older brother has changed a bit since he came home. But I think it's understandable that his personality would change so drastically after the accident."
Yue Yining said thoughtfully, "That makes sense."
My brain is working like crazy, it's about to burst into flames.
Xie Yunying continued to try to salvage the situation: "And what you don't know is that after my older brother went home, he experienced some other things as well."
Xie Yunying: "Shouldn't we be able to talk about this? Xie Zhi is dead, and the Wang family has fallen. It won't cause any problems if we talk about it, right?"
System: "Why are you asking me? I didn't stop you from talking."
Xie Yunying: "..."
Xie Yunying: "Then I'll tell you! I really will!"
Yue Yining was now completely absorbed by her words: "Some other things? What are they?"
Xie Yunying pursed her lips, her face showing a conflicted and hesitant expression: "Then I'll tell you, but you must remember to keep my secret."
Yue Yining understood immediately and nodded: "Don't worry, I will never tell anyone what I heard today."
Xie Yunying took a deep breath: "...Okay, then I'll tell you."
"Actually, the reason why my older brother suddenly disappeared was because of the betrayal of the Wang family. My father kept it a secret from everyone, not even the family. I only found out because I overheard my older brother's conversation with my father."
"Back then, my father and Vice Minister Wang came forward, and the Xie and Wang families jointly planned an accident, arranging for my eldest brother to be the bait. Who knew that the Wang family secretly sabotaged things, causing my eldest brother to be abducted from the capital and disappear without a trace for half a year."
“My older brother suffered a lot during his time away from home, but I can’t tell the Yue people the details, because if word got out, he would only have one way out: death.”
Xie Yunying sighed softly, "He probably harbors hatred in his heart too. Because of this scheme, if Father had sent people to search for his whereabouts extensively, it would have exposed the schemes of the Xie and Wang families. In order to protect the overall situation, Father did not use his open connections, but secretly sent some people to look for my elder brother, which is why it took so long to find him."
Yue Yining was astonished.
She had no idea that any of this had happened.
She said blankly, "...He never told me any of this."
Xie Yunying exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Really? Xie Qingyu has never used this incident to gain sympathy?"
System: "I was surprised too."
Xie Yunying thought to herself, but didn't forget to chime in: "Maybe it's because he doesn't want to bring up those embarrassing things in front of you."
-----------------------
The author's note: Ningning won't forgive him so quickly, but she will struggle a little so that Yuyu will have the chance to wag her tail and beg for mercy in front of her.
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