Chapter 28 Planning is not a binary choice.
After the matter was concluded, it was already dusk. Wei Ye escorted Yue Yining and Wei Yihua to the gate of the mansion and watched their carriages and horses depart into the distance.
Yue Yining originally intended to sit in the same carriage as when she arrived, but Wei Yihua dismissed Fu Yao and Su Yue, leaving only Yue Yining to ride in the same carriage with her.
The incense in the car had gone out, and the tea leaves in the teapot had dried and clumped together. Wei Yihua didn't care; she personally poured out the remaining liquid and brewed tea for Yue Yining again.
The scene from just now flashed through Wei Yihua's mind again.
After saying that, Yue Yining sat down in the chair. She tapped her brow with her long finger and chuckled, "On your way here, did you ask anyone else to travel with you? What did they say to you? Tell me."
Liu Yao recounted everything that had happened to her on her way here. After listening to Liu Yao's story, Yue Yining pondered for a moment, but Wei Ye couldn't wait any longer and eagerly asked her, "Master Yue, are these people Liu Yao mentioned the spies in the mansion?"
Yue Yining shook her head: "It's not necessarily so. The reasons are complicated. It could be that she's trying to protect herself, or that she's just afraid of trouble, or that she has a personal grudge against this maid and therefore doesn't want to associate with her."
"Please, Your Highness, do not be impatient. My previous method was merely to select trustworthy people for Your Highness. In this way, Your Highness can use these people to conduct the investigation with peace of mind. If there is still a shortage of manpower, you can also listen to the thoughts of these three people. People recommended by those who are loyal to Your Highness can be trusted to some extent."
Wei Ye nodded in agreement: "Then, Master Yue, what do you think is the best way to investigate without alerting the enemy, and to accurately identify the spies?"
The three people on the ground, Wei Ye, and Wei Yihua all looked at Yue Yining. The woman in the blue robe, under everyone's gaze, pondered for a moment before asking an unrelated question: "Does His Highness the Third Prince have any ministers he wishes to win over?"
Wei Ye was taken aback: "Yes, yes. But what does this have to do with spies?"
“I just feel that doing things one by one is too slow,” Yue Yining said with a smile. “I have a plan that can kill two birds with one stone, which can help Your Highness win over the ministers you want, and at the same time catch the spies in the mansion. Would Your Highness like to hear it?”
The teapot was full of water. Wei Yihua put down the kettle, put the lid on, and her thoughts drifted away.
However, the flutter in her heart still lingered.
She knew that Yue Yining was a powerful weapon, and that she was able to bring her under her wing ahead of time by relying on her experience of living two lives. It was a blessing from heaven that she had been given this good fortune.
She had never been so confident. With the two of them on the same side in this life, they were sure to be invincible and win this battle beautifully.
Yue Yining accepted the teacup offered by her: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Wei Yihua suddenly spoke up: "Just call me Yihua."
Yue Yining was taken aback. She looked up and saw Wei Yihua looking at her with some nervousness.
Yue Yining chuckled inwardly. She lowered her head and rubbed the teacup with her fingertips: "No, thank you. That would be too presumptuous. I cannot be so rude."
A hint of annoyance and embarrassment flashed across Wei Yihua's face. It was the first time she had tried to befriend someone, only to be rejected so thoroughly. Yue Yining looked at her slightly puffed-out cheeks as she turned her head to the side, finding it both amusing and endearing.
“However,” Yue Yining said with a slight smile, “you may call me Yining from now on, Princess.”
Wei Yihua was slightly taken aback. She turned her head and met Yue Yining's gentle and bright eyes.
Yue Yining: "There's no need to call me Master Yue anymore. Whenever the princess calls me Master Yue, I always feel like she's not calling me, but someone else."
Wei Yihua was taken aback, her fingers loosened, and she almost dropped the teacup.
She quickly replied, "Okay."
Yue Yining changed the subject: "The princess sent everyone away, leaving me alone in the carriage. There must be something she wants to say to me, right?"
Wei Yihua nodded: "Yes. This time I came not only to ask you to help the Third Prince, but more importantly, to show you the situation of the Third Prince's residence."
"From now on, I may need your help in planning matters concerning my third brother."
Yue Yining raised an eyebrow: "I remember, I work for the Eldest Princess, not for the Third Prince."
"Or has Her Highness the Eldest Princess decided to side with the Third Prince?"
Wei Yihua: "I do indeed have this intention."
Yue Yining had only said it casually, but upon hearing this, her finger, which was pointing at the table, stopped.
"You must find it strange, right? Why would I support a prince in a predicament instead of my more favored elder brother?" Wei Yihua pursed her lips, but decided to be honest. "Please keep what I'm about to say a secret."
“I am not Consort Li’s biological daughter. My birth mother is the deceased Empress, and my birth brother is the deceased Crown Prince.”
"Even so, I was indeed raised by Consort Li. The Fourth Prince was unaware of this and always regarded me as his own sister. I know his character very well. He is really not suitable to be the Crown Prince, much less the Emperor."
Yue Yining was indeed surprised. If that's the case, then Wei Yihua is the only legitimate eldest princess?
As her thoughts gradually took shape, Yue Yining couldn't help but gently remind her, "Your Highness, you don't necessarily have to choose between the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince."
Wei Yihua seemed to misunderstand her meaning and said with some surprise, "But Dongxi only has two adult princes."
"If we're talking about princes who are about to come of age, there is one. But Father will certainly not choose him as the crown prince."
Yue Yining wanted to make her point more clearly, but was suddenly drawn in: "Who?"
Why do you think your father would definitely not choose him as the crown prince?
Wei Yihua: "It is the Seventh Prince, Wei Xueyu. You probably haven't heard of him because he is eccentric and aloof, rarely participates in social activities, and is not well-known. However, this is not the reason why I think Father Emperor would definitely not choose him as the Crown Prince."
"His birth mother was Consort Duanxian, from the Wang family of Yanjing, one of the most prominent aristocratic families. His maternal grandmother was Xie Tan, the eldest wife of the Wang family, and Xie Tan was the younger sister of Xie Zhi, the current chief civil official of Dongxi."
“My father is very wary of powerful clans manipulating the court and even more afraid of the maternal relatives seizing power. Therefore, as long as the Xie and Wang clans remain in power, my father will not consider making Wei Xueyu the crown prince.”
The red sun sets in the daytime, and the golden carriage is bathed in the glow of the setting sun. The sound of wheels gradually fades into the distance. Following this straight road, on the edge of the imperial city, there stands a mansion with unassuming gates.
The courtyard was lush and verdant, like a forest. Outside the side hall, a young man dressed in a lake-green robe was squatting in the corner.
He stared intently at the ground beneath his feet, before him a line of ants slowly and methodically making their way into the grass.
After watching for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly moved his fingers, picked up the wooden fork lying at his feet, and gently poked it into the path that the ants were sure to take.
Surprisingly, the ants' rhythm wasn't disrupted as he expected. The ants at the back immediately adjusted their route, veering around the giant tree branch that had fallen from the sky, and rejoined the rear of the line that had fallen behind.
The boy seemed to have discovered some earth-shattering secret; his eyes widened, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his usually composed face.
He murmured, "How interesting..."
At this moment, an aged voice came: "Seventh Prince, someone has come to pay their respects."
The green-clad boy, who had just shifted his position and was now squatting on the white marble steps, was startled by the sound. He turned his head, his almond-shaped eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Why would anyone come to visit him?
Looking in the direction of the sound, the chief eunuch led his men into the courtyard.
The newcomer possessed a refined and radiant appearance, his face, though hidden beneath the dense shade of the trees, still glowed like jade. Beneath his dark robe lay intricate dark silver embroidery, its intricate patterns resembling a spiderweb, revealing skin as delicate and white as spider silk.
Xie Qingyu approached Wei Xueyu and bowed respectfully. Her raised eyes were gentle yet profound, her gaze piercing directly into Wei Xueyu's eyes.
Just one glance was enough to send chills down Wei Xueyu's spine.
Danger! ...
I want to run away. Run away right now!
Xie Qingyu looked at him and smiled, "Your humble servant Xie Qingyu greets Your Highness the Seventh Prince."
...
Xie Yunying has been feeling quite depressed lately.
Since Xie Qingyu returned, Madam Wang was in a great mood and began planning a celebratory banquet for relatives and friends at home. She dragged Xie Yunying around every day to help her choose invitations and put her in charge of the list of items to be purchased, ostensibly to train her ability to manage the household.
Xie Yunying was tormented for half a day after waking up today. Finally, Madam Wang waved her hand and allowed her to return to Qiufang Courtyard.
Xie Yunying complained to the system: "Are you kidding me! It said I was supposed to help out, but I'm not allowed to do anything. All the work is done by the maids in the courtyard. I'd rather just sit there and lie down in my room! What's the point? Am I just here to be a mascot?!"
The system soothed Xie Yunying, who was about to explode: "Host, don't be angry. Making this kind of expression too often will cause wrinkles."
Xie Yunying was walking along the long corridor when a figure flashed by at the end. Xie Yunying blinked, thinking she was seeing things, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was indeed Xie Lianquan, the second young master of the Xie family.
Xie Yunying asked curiously, "Why is he here? Doesn't he hold an official position? Shouldn't he be in the capital at this time?"
System: "I don't know, host. He's not important. Let's go back first—"
Xie Yunying stood still and refused to move.
After observing for a while, Xie Yunying narrowed her eyes and changed direction: "No. He's acting strangely. I need to go and see."
system:"???"
As Xie Yunying followed, she mentally called out to the system: "Did you introduce him to me before? I don't remember. Could you flip through the original book and introduce him to me again?"
The system sighed helplessly: "Alright, let me take a look... Hmm, Xie Lianquan, the second young master of the Xie family, is an illegitimate son, born to the same concubine as Xie Yueshuang."
"He was actually quite a promising young man. He studied diligently for a few years and entered officialdom through the civil service examination system. He was among the top ten in the examination that year. However, because his elder brother Xie Qingyu's brilliance was too dazzling, he appeared much dimmer."
"In the original book, after Xie Qingyu died, he became Xie Zhi's only son. After Xie Zhi died, he naturally inherited the title and rose step by step in the officialdom."
While listening, Xie Yunying hid in a corner and watched Xie Lianquan's movements from a distance.
Xie Lianquan sneaked into a side room in the west courtyard. What he did inside is unknown, as he didn't emerge for a long time. After coming out, Xie Lianquan cautiously closed the door and looked around, seemingly to make sure no one was nearby. Only after confirming that no one was around did he leave.
After he left, Xie Yunying emerged from the bushes by the wall, brushed the fallen leaves off her clothes, and walked over: "Whose house did he just go into?"
System: "Master, that room is Xie Zhi's study."
Xie Yunying opened the door. Sure enough, no one was inside. Several huge bookshelves were placed in the four corners, and the first thing you could see was a long table in the middle piled with documents.
Xie Yunying couldn't see anything unusual either, as this was her first time here: "System, what do you think Xie Lianquan could be doing sneaking in like this?" It's no wonder she was suspicious; Xie Lianquan's expression and behavior were too strange.
System: "I don't know, host."
Xie Yunying rolled her eyes: "You know what? Sometimes you really act like an idiot, the kind who drools."
System: "......." Why are you suddenly cursing at it?!
Xie Yunying saw the memorials on the table. She picked them up and looked through them, exclaiming in surprise, "So Xie Zhi works from home too! He leaves the capital very late every day. I thought he hadn't brought any memorials home with him."
System: "Master, let's not rummage through things. If Xie Zhi notices that someone has come in and touched things, that would be terrible."
Xie Yunying: "Hey, don't worry. With my skills in stealing cell phones from my mom's locked boxes since I was a kid, I can definitely put them back intact. I guarantee that no one who comes in later will be able to tell that I was here."
Xie Yunying was spouting nonsense when a system alarm suddenly sounded: "Host! Someone's coming! Hide!"
Xie Yunying was dumbfounded. She quickly put the folded document back in its place and looked around. The room was empty, with only bookshelves and desks. There was almost nowhere to hide. In desperation, Xie Yunying opened a bookcase and hid inside.
Xie Yunying was on the verge of tears. She had just uttered those bold words, only to be slapped in the face!
The system nervously announced, "It's here!"
Xie Yunying peered out through the crack in the bookcase door.
The person pushed open the door, and a wrist with well-proportioned bones and fair skin supported the huanghuali wood door. Sunlight poured in, making his wrist appear translucent, like glass.
Xie Yunying was surprised.
The visitors turned out to be Xie Qingyu and Xie Zhi.
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