Chapter 176 Assisting the world's greatest strategist.
The day after the chaos at Yufeng Bank, a dark cloud loomed over the city.
Inside the Xie residence, several shifty-eyed elders gathered together again. Third Uncle Xie Zheng, Fifth Uncle Xie Rong, and Seventh Uncle Xie Min sat around a rosewood tea tray. No matter how composed they were on the surface, there was a hint of secret smugness in their eyes.
"The deficit is finally resolved." Fifth Uncle Xie Rong breathed a long sigh of relief. "Yue Yining is quite quick-witted; she actually managed to appease those peasants for the time being."
"Xie Qingyu is quite generous; she just gave away so much silver for nothing."
Seventh Uncle Xie Min stroked his sparse beard and chuckled sinisterly, "It's nothing but drinking poison to quench thirst. She publicly promised to pay in full within three days, but if she runs into financial difficulties and can't come up with the money after three days, how will she clean up the mess?"
"I've already sent people down to intensify the spread of rumors. I want to see if they can wait three days!"
Third Uncle Xie Zheng fiddled with the sandalwood prayer beads in his hand and said slowly, "What major incident could have happened at this bank? If we drag it out a bit, the eldest young master will find a way to resolve it."
"The important thing is that we need to take advantage of his preoccupation with his own problems and carefully prepare the accounts for the 100,000 tael deficit, so that we can perfectly pin it on the Second Miss's name."
This is their ultimate goal: to absolve themselves of the debt of greed and make the scapegoat the undisputed true culprit.
The accounts are now perfectly in order, everyone involved has been taken care of, and the voucher circulation records have been corrected one by one. They are just waiting for the last piece of forged evidence to be completed today, so that someone can be sent to the head office and branch offices at noon to secretly replace it.
By then, this enormous hole will be completely plugged.
They had meticulously planned every step, and the faster they moved, the harder it would be for Xie Qingyu, caught in the chaos and busyness, to notice.
Once this period of time has passed, even if Xie Qingyu finds the time to investigate further, she will only find that all the clues point to Xie Yunying, indicating that she made a mistake in her work.
Feeling relieved and relaxed, Xie Zheng even felt a pang of sympathy and pity for Xie Yunying, whom they had framed.
Who told her to accept Xie Qingyu's appointment and take out that 100,000 taels of silver on that very day? It was all her fate.
They knew that Xie Qingyu was busy with court affairs recently and could not keep a close eye on the details of the family business. Furthermore, the second young lady of the Xie family was impulsive and not very good at accounting matters. If something went wrong, she would lose her composure first and would be more likely to be convicted.
"Even if Qingyu is shrewd, he must be in a terrible predicament right now." Xie Min's lips curled into a shrewd smile. "He has to deal with the turmoil in the court, mobilize funds for emergency relief, and investigate this messy account."
"By the time he sorts things out, we've already slipped away unnoticed."
Everyone present burst into laughter. Just as they were basking in the joy of victory, a servant's frantic announcement came from outside the door: "Master, the head of the family... the head of the family has arrived!"
The three people inside were startled, quickly exchanged a glance, and resumed their usual dignified demeanor.
"Please invite the patriarch in," Xie Min said in a deep voice.
The door was pushed open, and Xie Qingyu, dressed in a black brocade robe, appeared, gentle and composed, with her usual faint smile on her lips.
He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Qingyu greets Third Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Seventh Uncle."
"Qingyu is here, please sit down." Xie Min's eyes were kind as he gestured for him to sit down. "I heard that there was quite a bit of trouble at the bank the other day. You've had a hard time, dealing with official matters and still having to worry about these mundane affairs."
Xie Qingyu said gently, "It's just my duty, nothing to brag about."
"The chaos at Yufeng Bank came suddenly. I don't know where the news leaked out, but it has caused such panic among the people. Manager Zhao is ultimately lacking in competence."
Fifth Uncle Xie Rong quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Zhao Cong is capable, but he's loose-lipped and lax in managing his subordinates! He's caused such a big incident, he really deserves to be punished!"
Xie Qingyu accepted the fresh tea offered by the maid, nodded slightly, and then delivered a piece of news that caught the three elders off guard: "However, my uncles need not worry. The sudden turmoil at the bank did cause some chaos for a while, but fortunately, with the help of a benefactor, the bank has sufficient silver reserves to cope with the situation and is temporarily safe."
The three elders were all startled upon hearing this.
Especially the impatient Fifth Uncle, who couldn't wait a moment longer, immediately followed up by asking, "Who, who is this esteemed person? How could they manage to raise 100,000 taels of silver in just two days?"
Xie Qingyu smiled slightly and said, "It's the eldest son of the Yuan family. Hearing that Yufeng Bank was in trouble, he took the initiative to come to me and offered to lend the Xie family 80,000 taels of silver in cash, using his own properties and part of his family's reserves as collateral, to help Yufeng Bank overcome its current difficulties."
"With the Yuan family's huge sum of money as a backing, the large-scale redemption three days later should not be a problem."
"What?!" Seventh Uncle Xie Min suddenly stood up, and the other two uncles also turned pale.
The three people's faces showed a mixture of shock, disbelief, and even panic that they could hardly conceal.
Seeing this, Xie Qingyu raised an eyebrow in feigned confusion, his gaze sweeping over the three men's faces: "Why are you uncles so surprised?"
"Young Master Yuan is a man of great virtue and has generously donated funds, which is truly a timely help to the Xie family. Could it be... that the uncles have a different opinion?"
"No, no," Fifth Uncle Xie Rong chuckled dryly, regaining his composure, "We were just... just too surprised..."
The three exchanged glances, all seeing the same panic in each other's eyes—with the Yuan family's strong support, their original delaying tactics had all fallen through, and Xie Qingyu had ample time to settle the accounts, but their false evidence had not yet been prepared!
Xie Qingyu seemed oblivious to the undercurrents between them, and simply smiled calmly: "Thanks to Young Master Yuan, Yufeng Bank was able to get out of this predicament. I also finally have some free time to properly sort out the messy accounts that have been piling up in the bank."
"Of all the things I'm most curious about, it's the 100,000 taels of silver that disappeared without a trace. Where did it go?"
The three elders within sight bowed their heads and remained silent, each trembling almost imperceptibly upon hearing this. Xie Qingyu ignored them and continued, "This morning, I ordered someone to check the accounts between the head office and branches over the past few months, especially the transfer of several large sums of money."
"Upon careful examination, some suspicious points were immediately discovered. For example, the 100,000 taels of silver that caused the turmoil was indeed transferred by Xie Yunying at the West City branch on that day, and the receipts were clear and detailed."
His gaze swept over the three men: "Why is a transfer of 100,000 taels with complete paperwork and proper documentation showing as an irregularity in the head office's accounts? Do any of you uncles have any clues about this error?"
He spoke gently, yet it made the hearts of the three elders jump at the same time.
Fifth Uncle Xie Rong chuckled twice and said, "Yun Ying is a child with a rash nature. Perhaps she overlooked something. The accounts are complicated and complex, so it's possible that she made a mistake."
"Oh?" Xie Qingyu's smile deepened, but his eyes remained cold. "Fifth Uncle also thinks it was Yunying's oversight?"
"But according to the records of the West City branch, the receipts were verified by several senior accountants who were present at the time. Could it be that the accountants collectively misread them?"
He turned his gaze to Xie Zheng: "Third Uncle has been in charge of the main branch for many years, so he must have the most experience in managing the accounts. In your opinion, how likely is it that this collective oversight is possible?"
Xie Zheng quickly crushed the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, but remained calm on the surface: "The accounts are vast, and occasional omissions are inevitable."
"Perhaps something went wrong at the Jiangnan branch, causing the information to fail to be synchronized with Yufeng in a timely manner."
Xie Qingyu smiled gently, but that smile sent a chill down Xie Zheng's spine. "Third Uncle is right. However, it just so happens that the head manager of the Jiangnan branch brought the accounts to the capital to report to me. He set off six days ago and arrived in the capital yesterday. I sent someone to take him to Yufeng Bank and checked the details on the spot."
"This morning I received a report from Manager Lin that the allocation records of the Jiangnan branch are normal, and there have been no delays or errors."
Seventh Uncle Xie Min exclaimed, "Aren't the heads of the branches in various regions supposed to come to the capital to report for duty in the middle of the month?! It's only the beginning of April, how could he be here...!"
“Yes, logically speaking, it shouldn’t be the day for the managers to report on their duties, so he wouldn’t be here so early.” Xie Qingyu replied with a smile, “But there are always exceptions. A few days ago, he asked me for leave, saying that he wanted to go back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors in mid-April, so I specially approved his early entry into the capital to report on his duties.”
Xie Qingyu's gaze swept over the three elders' suddenly grim faces. Her tone remained gentle, yet carried a subtle sense of oppression. "Therefore, the problem lies neither with Yunying nor with the Jiangnan branch."
"So, at which stage, by whom, and in what way, did this 100,000 taels of silver disappear without a trace?"
The room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight.
Xie Qingyu looked at their forced composure but barely concealed panic, and the warm smile on her face vanished.
“Uncles, there’s no need to bother making up excuses anymore.” He spoke slowly, his voice cold. “You’ve been secretly manipulating the accounts, linking that huge sum of money to the massive deficits left by your years of embezzlement and failed speculation, trying to frame Xie Yunying and make her the sacrifice to fill the hole.”
“I know all the bad things you’ve done.”
"Xie Qingyu, don't talk nonsense!" Fifth Uncle Xie Rong suddenly stood up, his face flushed. He pointed at Xie Qingyu and roared, his voice trembling with fear, "Is this how you speculate about the family elders?!"
Xie Qingyu chuckled lightly, her laughter filled with sarcasm. "You think you can get away with this by bribing a few accountants and altering a few ledgers?"
"You think that by controlling a group of loyal old accountants and threatening them with their secrets to falsify accounts for you, you can keep everything under your control."
"Unfortunately, I found out all the details about these old accountants a year ago, and I also arranged for other accountants to keep an eye on them. In the past year, I have evidence of the false accounts they made for you."
He looked at Xie Rong's face, which had turned deathly pale, and continued, "As for the transfer of benefits between you and the Seventh Prince's faction through the Xie family's channels, and the copies of those shady accounts of favors and exchanges, they are currently in my study. Do you wish me to read them to you uncles one by one?"
Seventh Uncle Xie Min trembled all over, his lips quivering, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Xie Qingyu looked at Xie Zheng and smiled elegantly: "Third Uncle, you are the most shrewd strategist."
"Why don't you do the math again? Would it be faster for me to submit the irrefutable evidence of your embezzlement, send you to the Ministry of Justice prison, and confiscate your property to cover the deficit, or for you to send someone to the bank with prepared false evidence right now, so that Xie Yunying can take the blame for you?"
Xie Zheng finally lost his grip on the prayer beads, and they fell to the ground with a "snap," the broken beads rolling all over the floor.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, slumping into the chair and muttering, "You...! You knew all along... You deliberately lured us into making a move..."
Xie Qingyu had been holding back for a long time, waiting for this day to lure the snake out of its hole.
“That’s right.” Xie Qingyu readily admitted, staring at the group of elders who were trembling like leaves, “I set a trap for the three uncles. The reason why Yunying was put in charge of that 100,000 taels of silver was also my intentional arrangement.”
Xie Qingyu hadn't originally planned to take action against these elders, but Qiu Wuzhu's actions after arriving in the capital disrupted his plans.
His open break with the Seventh Prince's faction on behalf of the Xie family, and his support for the Captain Princess, will not only exacerbate the conflict between him and the family elders, but also attract Qiu Wuzhu's attention.
The night the Xie family announced their support for the eldest princess's bid for the throne, Yue Yining came to the Xie residence to find him and told him her plans.
“Master will not let any force that supports me go unpunished,” Yue Yining said. “The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. You have brought the Xie family to stand in front of her. She may still be hesitating about how to deal with me next, but in this way, her next prophecy will inevitably be aimed at you and the Xie family.”
So he and Yue Yining discussed countermeasures overnight, and considered all the places where the Xie family might be targeted as a breakthrough point. Finally, they determined several specific directions, one of which was the banking industry in the capital controlled by the Xie family.
These days, he often thinks of Yue Yining, who nestled in his arms that night, analyzing the pros and cons with great clarity.
Even though she couldn't predict the future through divination, she still managed to figure out Qiu Wuzhu's schemes using her cunning.
She laid a trap beforehand, ultimately turning the tide of the battle.
“If my uncles weren’t so greedy and ruthless, my scheme would have been a waste of time.” He smiled gently. “However, how could my uncles bear to disappoint me?”
Looking at the elders who were ashen-faced, Xie Qingyu suppressed her smile and said coldly, "Now that things have come to this, I can give you two options."
"First, I will submit all the evidence to the authorities. None of the three uncles, as well as your families and cronies, will escape. They will be investigated and punished according to the law, and their property will be confiscated. The Xie family will be disgraced as a result, but only by removing the rotten flesh can it be reborn."
"Second, the three of you must honestly return all the money you have embezzled over the years. Whether you sell all the land and shops under your names or borrow money from others, do everything you can to make up for the bank's losses. Furthermore, resign from all your positions in the clan, move out of the Xie Mansion, find a place to settle down, and live out your remaining years in peace and tranquility."
“In that case, I can spare you the troubles of blood ties and ensure you a peaceful old age, and also preserve some dignity for the Xie family.”
All three knew that Xie Qingyu was not questioning, but rather delivering a verdict.
Third Uncle Xie Zheng closed his eyes, his voice hoarse as if he had used up all his strength: "We...we choose the second option..."
Xie Qingyu straightened up, her gentle smile returning to her face, clearly satisfied with their sensibility.
“Very good,” he said. “Then please ask your uncles to get on it as soon as possible.”
"I hope my uncles truly understand and stop trying to be clever. If they cause any more trouble, they won't even have a second option left."
The implicit warning was left on the ground, the door closed softly, leaving three pale-faced old men, as if their souls had been ripped out, trembling in despair.
The gloomy sky pressed down on the earth, like black gauze covering cold jade.
Shortly after Xie Qingyu left, Xie Yueshuang boarded a carriage bound for the Yue residence.
Xie Yueshuang had dressed up specially, wearing a lilac-colored half-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair styled elegantly and adorned with several clusters of pearl flowers, making her look refined and gentle. In her hand, she carried a brocade box containing a copy of the document that Xie Qingyu had instructed her to deliver to Yue Yining.
This morning, Xie Qingyu suddenly summoned her to the Spray Frost Courtyard and assigned her this task. When he gave her instructions, his expression was pleasant, and even Xie Yueshuang, who was good at reading people, could not see through his thoughts.
Inside the study, Yue Yining stood by the window, gazing at a cluster of hostas in full bloom outside.
Xie Yueshuang was led into the house, and this was the scene she saw.
She was somewhat surprised. This female official, who had recently become famous in Yanjing, was dressed in an ordinary cotton blue robe, with no makeup on. She leaned against the window, looking solitary and elegant, like a slender lotus.
"Lord Yue, Miss Xie has arrived," a maid announced softly.
Yue Yining turned around, a perfectly timed smile on her face: "Miss Xie, please have a seat."
Xie Yueshuang curtsied gracefully, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency. My elder brother instructed me to deliver some documents and told me to let him know if Your Excellency needs any assistance."
"Thank you for your trouble." Yue Yining's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his tone as gentle as ever. "I must also congratulate you, Miss, on becoming the top scholar in this year's civil service examination. You are truly a woman who is just as capable as any man."
"You flatter me, sir." Xie Yueshuang lowered her eyes slightly. "I am unworthy of such praise. It was just a stroke of luck."
"Just luck?" Yue Yining repeated softly, walked behind the desk and sat down, saying leisurely, "Sometimes, things in this world seem like luck, but in fact, they are destined."
She raised her eyes to meet Xie Yueshuang, who had come looking at her after hearing the voice, and smiled slightly, saying, "I heard that when the list of successful candidates was first posted, you were only the runner-up. If it weren't for the sudden upheaval in this year's civil service examination, which uncovered a shocking case of cheating and leaking exam questions, resulting in widespread repercussions and the removal of the original champion from the list, it wouldn't have been your turn, Miss Xie."
These words were somewhat offensive, but Xie Yueshuang remained calm and composed, replying, "What Lord Yue says is true. That's why Yueshuang believes that what I have gained is merely a fluke."
The incense stick was half-burnt when a section broke off and fell into the burner.
Yue Yining tapped the table lightly. She looked at Xie Yueshuang's face and spoke after a long while: "Speaking of this case, who would have thought that it would all end up being leaked by mistake because of a distant relative of Lord Zhou who spoke recklessly while drunk?"
"As luck would have it, this time the selection of candidates for the civil service examination was once again handled by more than half of the female officials, thus confirming the Grand Preceptor's prophecy that 'when a hen crows at dawn, the selection of candidates for the civil service examination will be hindered.' Truly, the world is unpredictable and fate is cruel."
Xie Yueshuang's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers curled up inside her sleeve.
She maintained her composure: "In my opinion, Lady Zhou Congyi is not at fault. This matter is all due to her nephew Zhou Yi, who is too incompetent. He can't even listen carefully, yet he dares to talk nonsense outside, which ultimately led to a terrible disaster."
"It's a pity about Lady Zhou. She was originally a diligent and good official who served the people, but she was forced to be demoted."
After Xie Yueshuang finished speaking in a perfunctory manner, she didn't hear Yue Yining's response for a moment, so she couldn't help but raise her eyes.
As she looked up, her gaze met Yue Yining's, who had been scrutinizing her.
For some reason, Xie Yueshuang's heart suddenly sank.
Yue Yining raised an eyebrow and smiled, "That's right. But I remember that during the joint trial by the three judicial departments, it was you, Miss Xie, who provided the key clue and recalled the conversation between Zhou Yi and Li Mao at the gathering."
Xie Yueshuang's breath hitched; realizing something was wrong, she quickly feigned a panicked expression and said, "Yes, but... but the interrogating officials pressed me repeatedly, and I dared not conceal anything. I could only truthfully recount what I had seen and heard. After all, it involved the laws of the court, and although I am of low status, I know I must fulfill my duty to give a truthful account..."
“I know that Lord Yue and Lord Zhou have always been on good terms, and he will surely stand up for her, but I am also…”
Yue Yining waved her hand, interrupting her lament: "Miss Xie has misunderstood me. I never intended to hold a grudge against you."
"I just want to ask Miss Xie to clarify something for me, such as what it means to fulfill the responsibility of truthfully stating facts."
Yue Yining smiled gently and charmingly, but her next words plunged Xie Yueshuang into an icy abyss: "If the conversation between Zhou Yi and Li Mao at the gathering is something Miss Xie believes must be told the truth, then shouldn't Miss Xie also truthfully state that she had a private meeting with the Imperial Preceptor Qiu Wuzhu before the literary selection began?"
A thunderous roar exploded in Xie Yueshuang's mind.
She looked up abruptly and met Yue Yining's eyes, which seemed to see through everything. There was no gentleness in them, only calm scrutiny and understanding.
"Hmm? Tell me about it?" Yue Yining said. "I'd also like to know what the Grand Preceptor instructed you about back then, and what he asked you to do."
Xie Yueshuang's face drained of color instantly, and her lips trembled.
"...Why does the Lord of Yue say such a thing? Yue Shuang, Yue Shuang doesn't understand."
"Don't you understand?" Yue Yining slowly walked up to her, approaching step by step. His voice was calm and indifferent, yet it made Xie Yueshuang unable to lift her head. "Then let me tell you? Tell me about your meeting with Qiu Wuzhu, tell me what you talked about, and what deals you made?"
"Miss Xie, she must have told you that while I can't foresee things about her, I can certainly foresee things about you. Although your dealings are secretive, they are not without trace. Qiu Wuzhu promised you a bright future, allowing you to break free from the Xie family's constraints and helping you rise smoothly in your official career, on the condition that you provide just the right testimony in the upcoming literary selection fraud case, pointing the clues to Zhou Congyi and others, confirming her crime of being a hen crowing at dawn, confirming her prophecy, and thus clipping His Highness's wings. Am I right?"
Xie Yueshuang's whole body stiffened, and even breathing became difficult.
Her seemingly flawless surrender was actually already known to Yue Yining!
Looking at her pale face, Yue Yining continued, "You did very well, even beyond expectations."
"You not only completed the task assigned by the Grand Preceptor, but also astutely seized another opportunity—when you learned that Xie Qingyu had appointed Yunying to deliver the 100,000 taels of silver, you immediately realized that this was a golden opportunity to kill two birds with one stone."
"You inadvertently leaked this information to your uncles, who were in a frenzy and desperately looking for a scapegoat, using them as a tool to frame Yun Ying for embezzlement. This way, you could both please the Imperial Advisor, strike at the Xie family, and falsely accuse your sister, whom you've always considered a thorn in your side," Yue Yining laughed. "Miss Xie, you've really got a good plan."
"Lord Yue, please watch your words!" Xie Yueshuang suddenly stood up, her chest heaving. She didn't know what Yue Yining's words had just said that touched a nerve, but she no longer pretended to be gentle and magnanimous. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at Yue Yining. "Don't make false accusations! How could I deliberately frame Xie Yunying, or help outsiders take revenge on the Xie family?!"
"Why?" Yue Yining looked at her as she finally tore off her mask, her voice turning cold. "I'll tell you, it's because you're not reconciled."
"Your talent is no less than that of men, and your ability far surpasses that of your younger sister, but because of your different birth, you are always inferior to others. Xie Qingyu has always valued the foolish and reckless Xie Yunying more, while you have a lot of talent and ambition, but you have nowhere to use them and are greatly suppressed in the Xie family."
"You think that by siding with the Imperial Advisor, you can get rid of all this, no longer have to please your biased elder brother, no longer have to pretend to be friendly with your annoying younger sister, and earn a bright future through your own abilities."
"I know what you're thinking, and perhaps I can understand it."
She changed the subject abruptly, her gaze sharp: "But what I can't understand is why you would use such methods on innocent Yun Ying!"
"In the literary selection cheating case, you deliberately gave false testimony for your own advancement, which could be attributed to greed and human nature. But this time! You knew where the 100,000 taels of silver went, and you knew that Yun Ying had nothing to do with this matter, yet you still fueled the fire and tried to put her in a hopeless situation! What did she do to make you hate her so much?"
Xie Yueshuang seemed to be provoked, her face contorting for a moment.
"She's innocent? She knows nothing?" She seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, a mocking smile spreading across her face. The resentment she had suppressed for so long finally erupted. "You're the one who knows nothing! What right do you have to question me here?! Where is Xie Yunying innocent? Where does she deserve any sympathy?!"
She took a step forward, her eyes burning with a ghostly light. She sneered, "Yes, I'm jealous of her! I hate her! So what? Does that mean I'm morally flawed, unfilial, and disrespectful? If you were me, wouldn't you also feel jealous and resentful towards her?!"
"From childhood to adulthood, simply because she was born to the legal mother, she could easily gain everyone's attention and favoritism! Whatever she wanted, she could get it by crying and making a fuss!"
"And what about me? Do you think I want to be a proper young lady? Do you think I want to be sensible and humble? I was forced into it by her! Because I am the older sister, I am a concubine's daughter, so I have to give in to her. If I don't, I will be scolded and ignored!"
"No matter how hard I try, how outstanding I am, in my stepmother's eyes, in my father's eyes, in my brother's eyes, I will never be as good as her! I have a better reputation than her, and I am praised by others, but what's the use? That's all the respect I've earned with all my might. She doesn't have to do anything to get everything I want!" Xie Yueshuang gritted her teeth, her eyes red, and said, "Tell me, how can I accept this? How can I not hate her?!"
"Do you really think she's as innocent and harmless as she appears?" Xie Yueshuang's voice was sharp. "That's just because she's grown up and become more restrained! When she was little, she relied on her stepmother's support to secretly trip me up so many times!"
“She deliberately dirtied the handkerchief I had painstakingly embroidered, scribbled all over my calligraphy practice books, and falsely accused me to my father of stealing her jewelry… She is inherently arrogant and cruel, but now she has learned to pretend, and she has managed to deceive so many people into favoring her!”
"From a young age, I have been self-disciplined, polite, and kind to others, living a life of constant vigilance. Even when I harbored resentment, I never did anything immoral or unethical. Who has ever cared about me?!"
"I may not be entirely upright, but in the past ten years or so, I have never harmed anyone like she has! What, I've been a good person for so long, and just because I did these two wrong things, I deserve to die? I deserve to be cast into the deepest hell, condemned to eternal damnation?!"
Looking at Xie Yueshuang, whose face was completely disfigured by hysteria, Yue Yining remained silent for a moment.
Only Xie Yueshuang's heavy breathing after her angry roar and the shattered silence remained in the room.
"You're talking about the Yunying of the past." Yue Yining looked at Xie Yueshuang's bloodshot eyes and said calmly, "You said she's changed, and you should know that people change. She is her, and you are you. You shouldn't blame her for the mistakes you've made or the injustices you've suffered."
"She may be reckless now, or not very smart, but she no longer has the intention to harm others. As for you, Miss Xie, you may be talented, and your resentment may be understandable, but you have chosen the wrong path."
“You are indeed exceptionally cunning and intelligent. Even if I knew what you had done, I still couldn’t hold you accountable for your crimes, simply because you never acted personally, but only secretly instigated and fueled the flames,” Yue Yining said. “But do you think you’ve won?”
"Qiu Wuzhu is the greatest celestial master in the world. She only needs to turn the copper plate to know everything about our conversation today in just a few breaths. You have already been exposed to us. She will no longer rely on you. Your fate will be nothing more than to be abandoned by her. I foresaw the trouble that would happen to Yufeng Bank. Xie Qingyu had a backup plan. He should have already finished dealing with those elders who caused trouble for the Xie family."
Seeing Xie Yueshuang's astonished look, Yue Yining looked back at her and said, word by word, "Qiu Wuzhu will not lose anything, and the Xie family will also get through this difficult time smoothly."
"And you, from now on, have lost the help of the Imperial Advisor and the possibility of being accepted by the Xie family. You are the biggest loser in this political struggle."
Xie Yueshuang collapsed to the ground, her hand trembling as she raised it. Her vision blurred, and she couldn't even see her own fingers clearly. "No, impossible...it can't be...how could I...?"
Her ears were ringing, and she was still reeling from the immense shock and devastation when suddenly her palms felt warm.
The blur before her eyes instantly cleared, and she could see the person in front of her clearly.
Yue Yining took her hand.
Xie Yueshuang was stunned, as if she had been frozen in place. Yue Yining, who had squatted down, stared into her eyes and said to her, "Xie Yueshuang, you can also choose not to be a loser."
“I want to give you a choice,” Yue Yining said. “I’ve asked around about you, calculated your destiny, and learned about your ambitions.”
"Your literary talent is outstanding. Your articles can incisively criticize the ills of the times. You can see the suffering of the people and know why they are suffering. This is rare among the children of noble families. If you follow the proper path to advancement, one day you will rise to a high position and be able to do something for them. You will not stand idly by."
"You're not a bad person by nature, you just never had a choice, but that's not your fate."
“You said you’ve always been a good person and only made these two mistakes. You’ve just gone astray for a while. But it’s okay to go astray, as long as you realize your mistake and turn back. You said you’ve never been treated fairly and no one has ever given you a chance. I’m giving you that chance now.”
"If you are willing to become the Princess's strategist, I promise to treat you the same as everyone else and not favor anyone."
After Yue Yining finished speaking, she waited for Xie Yueshuang's reply.
Unexpectedly, Xie Yueshuang, who had been frozen in place for a long time, suddenly shook off her hand and sat up abruptly.
She stared intently at her, like a deer wary of a hunter approaching.
"...No matter how stupid I am, I won't believe what you say." Xie Yueshuang said, her hands trembling. "Why should I join you? Do you think I'd believe you? Talk of fair treatment? That's ridiculous! If you like Xie Yunying, why would you like me?"
To her surprise, Yue Yining did not approach her again, but simply reached out her hand.
A slender, fair hand reached out to within an arm's length of hers.
She gazed at her without wavering.
“You can try,” Yue Yining said. “I will prove to you that I am not lying.”
Xie Yueshuang's jaw trembled again, but this time it wasn't from panic.
Her hands, hanging by her sides, gripped the hem of her skirt, crumpling it into a ball. She seemed unable to hold on any longer, abruptly turning and staggering out of the main house.
Yue Yining didn't stop her, but called out from behind her, "If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime!"
Xie Yueshuang did not turn around.
Yue Yining sighed, clapped her hands, sat down, and looked out the window at the dark, cloud-covered sky.
It looks like it's going to rain.
She didn't calculate, yet her guess was still very accurate. In less than a quarter of an hour, a fine drizzle began to fall outside, and the endless dew pelted the grass and leaves that had sprouted throughout the garden in spring, while the bamboo shadows were disturbed by the gentle breeze.
The sound of a maid's footsteps came from the corridor. She knocked on the door and said softly, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang, an official under the Third Prince, has arrived."
Yue Yining was taken aback when she heard the announcement.
Why would Wei Ye suddenly send someone to find her?
"Enter."
She had seen this Lord Zhang before. Seeing his pale face, Yue Yining had a bad feeling. She stood up and went to greet him, "Lord Zhang, what happened to the Third Prince?"
"Lord Yue! You...you must go and see His Highness the Third Prince!"
Spring tides bring heavy rain, and it soon became a downpour.
The two left the mansion in a hurry. A maid held an umbrella for Yue Yining and saw her off at the gate, watching her quickly board the carriage.
After listening to Lord Zhang's rambling words, Yue Yining frowned: "Are you saying that he hasn't eaten or drunk anything for two days since he returned from the palace?"
"Yes, yes! He hasn't eaten a single grain of rice all day. Even when the maids tried to go in, he yelled at them and drove them away... He hasn't eaten for two days; logically, he should be too weak to stand, but we still hear things being smashed coming from inside." Lord Zhang flicked his sleeve, his face full of worry, sighing and rubbing his legs as he spoke, "Oh dear... I... I have no idea what's wrong with the Third Prince...!"
"We have no say in this. Since Her Highness the Princess is not here, I can only come to Lord Yue. Perhaps he will be willing to see you."
Yue Yining entered the Third Prince's residence and went straight to the Third Prince's sleeping quarters. Outside the hall, a row of maids and guards knelt on the ground, all trembling. From inside the hall, there were occasional, alarmingly crisp cracking sounds, as if someone had forcefully slammed porcelain to the ground.
Lord Zhang led Yue Yining forward, and before they could even knock on the door, a furious roar erupted from inside: "Get out! Didn't you hear me?! All of you, get out!!"
The moment the voice faded, Yue Yining, standing in front of the palace gate, called out, "Your Highness, Third Prince!"
"It's me, Yue Yining."
A deathly silence fell over both the hall and its interior.
Yue Yining heard footsteps moving, and the broken pieces on the ground were kicked away with a series of cracking sounds, indicating that someone was slowly approaching.
She knew Wei Ye had come, so she stood behind the door.
She said softly, "...Whatever has happened, please open the door, Your Highness, I wish to see you."
After an unknown amount of time, the heavy breathing that had been so close by gradually subsided.
As everyone held their breath, the door creaked open from the inside.
Yue Yining met Wei Ye's gaze as he opened the door, and despite her preparations, she froze in place.
The Third Prince, Wei Ye, is honest, kind, and sincere. He is a rare, simple and easy-to-understand character in this complex and treacherous imperial palace.
But in that instant, she could no longer understand Wei Ye's gaze.
Wei Ye looked like a ghost, with bluish-gray eyes and sunken cheeks. In just two days, he had become like a walking corpse.
Yue Yining saw pain, fear, despair, and sorrow in his eyes... but after a moment, she wondered if she was seeing things.
Because in those eyes, there was clearly only desolation and death.
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Author's Note: The storm is brewing, and we're almost at the fiercest moment... The next chapter will explain the truth behind Ningning's murder in her past life in a special way.
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