Chapter 57: Mutual Deception and Head-to-Head Conflict Afterwards
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the soft sound of the water clock.
Yue Yining stared at Xie Qingyu, not missing the soft sigh that escaped his lips.
Xie Qingyu said slowly, "Does Miss know who the Seventh Prince's mother, Consort Duanxian, is?"
Yue Yining: "I don't know much about her. I've only heard that she is the younger sister of Prime Minister Xie and the eldest daughter of the eldest son of the Wang family."
“That’s right,” Xie Qingyu said. “The Wang family’s rebellion has been investigated and proven to be a fabrication. However, their corruption, abuse of power, and pursuit of profit are undeniable facts, involving enormous sums. Countless ordinary people were forced to die tragically because of the Wang family’s accumulation of wealth. His Majesty was merciful and did not execute them all, but only killed a few of the most powerful individuals as a punishment. Most of the other members of the Wang family were only demoted, stripped of their official status, or exiled to the border.”
"Among those who died were Consort Duan's grandfather Wang Zhichang, her biological father Wang Yi, and her younger brother Wang Yu."
Yue Yining paused, then said, "You mean...?"
“My aunt once told my father that Consort Duan had been mentally unstable since the downfall of Lady Wang. She was listless and often verbally abused the Seventh Prince, as if she had lost her mind.” Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes. “If my aunt hadn’t accidentally seen the bruises on the Seventh Prince’s wrist, this matter would probably have been kept secret for even longer.”
At this point, although Xie Qingyu had not finished speaking, Yue Yining already understood everything.
No wonder Consort Duan went mad. Her grandfather, as the head of the family, and her biological father, as the eldest son of the main branch, had done everything for the Wang family, even if it meant getting their hands dirty. Now that the family had fallen, the second and third branches of the family had managed to save their lives, but she alone had lost her family. She must have pleaded with the Emperor, but he clearly ignored her. He was her husband of half her life, the one she had borne children for, and who had always lived a life of obedience and respect for the rules, yet he still treated her three closest relatives with ruthless indifference.
"Upon learning this, my aunt suggested that the Seventh Prince reside permanently in the Prince's Residence and visit the palace as little as possible," Xie Qingyu said. "However, the Seventh Prince told my aunt that he wanted to compete for the position of Crown Prince."
"I guess this is probably the idea that Consort Duan instilled in him. As Miss said, His Highness the Seventh Prince is very pure and abstinent and should not actively fight for the throne. But Miss does not know that His Highness the Seventh Prince is also extremely filial. Although he is aloof, he is also very disciplined and has never disobeyed his elders since childhood. He is especially obedient to his mother."
"Although I don't know how you learned about my whereabouts over the past three months," Xie Qingyu said sincerely, "I just happened to get along well with His Highness the Seventh Prince, so I often went to talk to him."
“My aunt and father both said that the Seventh Prince is aloof and rarely opens his heart to anyone. Therefore, they hope that I can see him more often, even if we have nothing to say to each other, just keeping him company is fine.”
Yue Yining asked, "And what about you? What are your thoughts?"
"Of course I'm willing." Xie Qingyu smiled, her eyes shining with gentle light. "His Highness the Seventh Prince doesn't like to talk to people, but he regards me as a close friend, and I don't want to let him down."
"If I can be a catalyst, or a starting point, to help the Seventh Prince gradually learn how to interact with people, he will surely have more and more friends around him, and perhaps he will no longer be as lonely as before."
Yue Yining vaguely sensed a faint white light surrounding Xie Qingyu.
She nodded without hesitation: "It definitely will."
Yue Yining had already trusted Xie Qingyu to some extent because he saw that Xie Qingyu's face and expression were not worried, and now that trust had increased to eight points.
When Xie Qingyu saw her lower her eyes, he knew that this was Yue Yining's habit when she was thinking, which meant that she had actually been persuaded by him.
Without hesitation, he continued, “I have met with His Highness the Seventh Prince many times. If he makes up his mind, with his knowledge and ability, he will certainly be more suitable to be the crown prince than the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince. I am not whitewashing or making excuses for the Xie family’s actions. I sincerely believe that His Highness the Seventh Prince will become a wise ruler.”
Yue Yining and Xie Qingyu looked at each other. His eyes were clear, like the mist rising from a cool pool after the rain, enveloping her.
She sensed his unspoken meaning and put down her teacup: "What are you trying to say?"
"Are you trying to persuade me to abandon my support for the Third Prince and instead join the Seventh Prince's faction?"
"Qingyu wouldn't dare." Xie Qingyu took the empty cup from her hand, slowly filled it with tea, and then pushed the cup back into Yue Yining's hand.
Yue Yining felt her fingertips being touched; the warm fingertip pressed against her for a moment and then left.
Xie Qingyu smiled gently and said, "I know that once you make a choice, it is hard to change your mind. So I never wished that telling you these things would make you stand with me."
Yue Yining was stunned. Just today, she had said something similar to Wei Yihua to comfort the overly anxious Princess.
Logically speaking, Xie Qingyu shouldn't know what she said to Wei Yihua.
In other words, this is the understanding he has accumulated over time.
When did he start to know her so well?
Xie Qingyu: "At the end of March, we recognized each other, and I gave you a courtyard house. Do you still remember what I said to you then?"
Yue Yining remembered everything after he reminded her.
On that day, they sat together under the eaves, the jade branches and trees leaning against each other, the starlight shining brightly, and the moon as clear as a jade disc.
When Yue Yining saw her off, she jokingly said to Xie Qingyu that she felt unworthy of the generous gift he had given her, and even though he said it was to repay a debt of gratitude, she felt that she had taken too much advantage of him.
At that time, Xie Qingyu said something she couldn't understand. She still remembered his long, drooping eyelashes and those eyes that held boundless moonlight, eyes that seemed to forever hold only her.
Xie Qingyu said softly, "Miss, you don't need to think like that. I'm already very grateful that you're willing to accept what I gave you. Besides, I have ulterior motives."
Yue Yining paused for a moment, then looked up at him: "You have ulterior motives?"
"yes."
Xie Qingyu smiled slightly and said, "I only hope that in the days to come, if I do anything that doesn't go my way, Miss, I hope you won't dislike me because of it."
"This is my true intention."
Yue Yining thought he was just being modest, so she replied casually, "Since you know it's something that will make me unhappy, can't you just not do it?"
But then Xie Qingyu stopped. In the moonlight, though he was dressed in black, his whole body shone with a lustrous glow, and his clear eyes looked at her as he answered with exceptional seriousness.
"I'm sorry, Miss." Xie Qingyu's voice seemed both distant and intimately close. "I also have my own principles."
...So that's what he meant.
Yue Yining pursed her lips: "Were you already planning to support the Seventh Prince back then?"
Xie Qingyu was about to answer, but Yue Yining smiled and said, "Never mind, I asked a stupid question. The struggle for the throne is no small matter. It takes time for the Xie family to inform each other, speak in unison, and make plans. It's already late if it's not finalized by the end of March."
"As you said, I am not someone who can be easily changed. It's not because I'm stubborn, but because I know that every choice I make and every step I take has been carefully considered. I understand myself exceptionally well, so I won't easily deny the decisions I made in the past."
Yue Yining smiled and said, "Since things have been made so clear, I have no reason to stay here any longer."
“After all, when we meet again, we’ll be political enemies, right?” Yue Yining said with a smile. “I’m also aware of your achievements in the court, and many officials I know speak highly of you.”
Xie Qingyu said, "Those are all undeserved compliments."
Yue Yining didn't respond to him, and continued, "You are so outstanding. If the struggle for the throne requires it in the future, Prime Minister Xie will definitely let you do many things that he is not comfortable to handle on his own."
As the most outstanding pieces in their respective camps, they are bound to clash in the future.
Yue Yining glanced at Xie Qingyu's expression. He was clearly aware of this as well. His straight neck drooped slightly, and from an angle where Yue Yining couldn't see, his long eyelashes concealed the darkness in his eyes.
He said softly, "...It doesn't have to be that way."
Even though he spoke very softly, Yue Yining still heard him.
Her smile faded slightly: "What did you say?"
Xie Qingyu pursed her lips, her dark, jade-like eyes fixed on her, shimmering with a gentle light: "If you don't rush to the front, you won't be targeted by the Xie family. Although I support His Highness the Seventh Prince, I don't want to be your enemy."
“You don’t have to work so hard, you don’t have to plan so painstakingly. Instead, you can let others do the work and hide your talents appropriately. Wouldn’t it be better to do so? If you are too flamboyant, you will inevitably be feared by others and become a target in the eyes of other forces,” Xie Qingyu said. “Besides, Miss should also be very clear about the principle of ‘when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away.’”
“You’re absolutely right.” Yue Yining nodded, then smiled again, but this time the smile had a different meaning. “But how could I not do it?”
“As a strategist, once you join a faction, you must wholeheartedly assist your lord. You have no right to choose to help or refuse. My relationship with His Highness the Third Prince is not so equal.” Yue Yining said with a smile, “If I am no longer useful, His Highness the Third Prince may find someone else to replace me in the blink of an eye. In order to keep my secret, he may even get rid of me.”
It was unclear what was wrong with what she said, but Xie Qingyu seemed a little stiff. What Yue Yining didn't notice was that Xie Qingyu's expression darkened for a moment when she heard the last sentence, but she quickly returned to normal.
In the end, he simply said, "I understand."
“I would like to confirm with you, Miss,” Xie Qingyu said, looking at her, “that the person you want to support has never changed.”
Yue Yining lightly tapped the rim of the teacup with her fingers. She smiled.
“Yes, that has never changed,” Yue Yining said. “I have always supported His Highness the Third Prince.”
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