34 Chapter 34
What harm is there in serving my master all this time?
After Xie Yutang returned from the palace that day, she was not summoned by the emperor again. As usual, she went to the school to listen to lessons every day. When there were no guests visiting the mansion, she practiced riding and archery at the racecourse and would also spar with Su Lu.
As peaceful as the princess's residence was, the court was in turmoil. The debate over the selection of the escort envoy never stopped. Except for the second prince, Lin Nan, who continued to slack off, the eldest prince, Lin Qi, and the third prince, Lin Tan, were doing their best. The court officials dared not openly take sides, but each had their own thoughts, and undercurrents were surging in the court.
Lin Tan, dressed in a crimson round-necked robe and adorned with a coral-inlaid hat, became the center of attention in the hall the moment he appeared. Several ministers even went over to talk to him. It was said that the Third Prince had the help of Princess Ning'an, so the position of the escort envoy was almost certainly secured.
Only after Eunuch Wei accompanied the emperor to his seat did the entire court quiet down.
The emperor's gaze swept over the assembled officials, pausing briefly on Lin Tan. "I have already decided on the choice of the envoy," he said. With a flick of his sleeve, the emperor addressed Eunuch Wei, "Summon him."
Countless discreet gazes focused on Lin Tan. Lin Tan remained calm, took a deep breath, and his fingers trembled slightly within his sleeves. Years of planning and scheming had finally come to fruition.
"Announce that the accompanying envoys have come to pay their respects—"
The heavy vermilion doors slowly opened, and the morning sunlight cast a golden beam of light into the hall, outlining a tall and elegant figure against the light.
Amidst shocked gazes and soft gasps, Xie Yutang strode into the hall.
She wore a black court robe with a red collar, embroidered with a crane poised to take flight on both the front and back. The edges of the robe were outlined with a river and clouds in gold thread. She was also dressed with pearl court beads and a jade belt with dragon patterns. Her appearance and demeanor illuminated the entire hall like the blazing sun.
Like a dragon that has been lurking in the abyss for a long time, it suddenly gets the clouds and rain and soars straight into the sky.
Lin Tan watched as the woman, who walked past him without glancing at him, bowed and kowtowed, while listening to Eunuch Wei unfold the imperial edict on the steps:
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."
Our Great Yan state widely welcomes virtuous and capable people, benefits all under heaven, and governs the country with benevolence. Now, a northern Rong state has sent envoys to pay tribute, wishing to establish friendly relations and jointly seek peace and tranquility.
Princess Ning'an, Xie Yutang, is skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessing both virtue and talent, and is fully capable of undertaking this important task. Therefore, you are hereby appointed as the receiving envoy for the Northern Rong delegation, fully responsible for the banquet arrangements. You must ensure meticulous and courteous treatment, demonstrating the grandeur of our great nation, so that the friendship between our two countries may flourish and the borders may be forever secure. So be it.
Xie Yutang listened quietly, and only after Eunuch Wei finished reading the imperial edict did he accept it with both hands and say loudly, "Your subject will certainly obey the imperial edict, perform his duties diligently, and live up to the emperor's boundless grace."
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction: "I favor Tang'er to serve as the escort envoy. Qi'er, Tan'er, what do you think?"
Lin Qi had initially thought that Lin Tan would take the position of envoy, and had been secretly preparing himself for several days. Now, seeing Xie Yutang suddenly appear, he was overjoyed. He immediately clasped his hands and said, "Father is wise! Fourth Sister is a woman of exceptional talent and is the best candidate for the position of envoy." After speaking, he glanced at Lin Tan beside him and said affectionately, "Third Brother, don't you think so?"
The surging blood in his chest was drained in an instant. Lin Tan felt dizzy and his ears rang. He pinched his fingers until they bled inside his sleeve before he managed to steady himself and force a smile: "Brother is right. I am honored that Tangtang has taken on this great responsibility."
Even those least politically astute could clearly see at this moment that Princess Ning'an, Xie Yutang, was officially entering the officialdom of Dayan under the spotlight.
Those who were more quick-witted had already come forward to congratulate him after the morning court session.
With the Northern Rong delegation's visit imminent, Xie Yutang had to oversee and finalize everything from the banquet details to the reception etiquette. After exchanging pleasantries with the court officials who came to greet her, she walked along the palace road toward the council hall. As she passed through a narrow alley, a door on one side suddenly opened, and Xie Yutang was pulled inside by a strong force and slammed against the door panel.
"Xie Yutang, are you kidding me?"
Lin Tan grabbed her collar, his eyes bloodshot, already furious.
Xie Yutang had expected this, so he wasn't in a hurry to object. "Does Your Highness still remember what I said?"
Those clear, bright eyes startled Lin Tan, who instinctively hissed, "You said you already have plans for what I entrusted to you, you—"
Realizing something, he suddenly fell silent.
"Yes, you heard me clearly, Third Prince. I said I already have plans. I didn't say I would help you become the escort envoy."
Use him to rise to power.
That was her plan.
You—shameless!
Annoyed at being tricked, Lin Tan could no longer maintain her facade, and a murderous glint flashed in her eyes.
Xie Yutang abandoned his playful expression and said in a deep voice, "Third Prince, have you ever considered why the Emperor entrusted me with the position of Imperial Envoy?"
"It's all because you played mind games!"
"The late emperor established an ancestral precept that the imperial family of the Great Yan dynasty must not appoint a crown prince for generations. Do you know why?"
Lin Tan was taken aback.
"Do you really think His Majesty is completely unaware of your open and covert struggles with the First Prince Lin Qi to win over court officials?"
“You and Lin Qi each have your strengths. To be frank, either of you could have been qualified for the position of envoy. But tell me, why did Father choose me, the one who seems the least likely to succeed, instead of using either of you?”
His anger was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. Lin Tan released Xie Yutang and took a step back hesitantly.
"Fighting among brothers is a major taboo."
Xie Yutang approached, his gaze sweeping over Lin Tan's face before whispering in his ear, "Father is not old yet."
A thunderclap suddenly rang in his ears, completely waking Lin Tan. In an instant, a chill ran through his body, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
His father was warning him.
"However, Your Highness, since I have promised to help you, I will not go back on my word."
Seeing his expression, Xie Yutang knew he had hit a nerve. Seizing the opportunity, he revealed his pre-planned scheme: "I have petitioned my father to select capable officials from the Privy Council, the Court of State Ceremonies, and the Six Ministries to serve as temporary envoys. However, the affairs involved in receiving the delegation are complex, and time is limited. I cannot make all the decisions alone. Therefore, I have suggested to my father that two deputy envoys be added under the position of receiving envoy—"
Lin Tan seemed to sense something, raised his eyes, and saw Xie Yutang smile slightly, "I wonder if His Highness the Third Prince is interested in taking on the position of Deputy Envoy."
The road took a turn for the better, and a brighter future appeared.
Lin Tan quickly calmed herself down and weighed the options for a moment: "Would Father Emperor grant my request?"
"I chose the person, not the Third Prince who fought for it himself. If Father Emperor doesn't agree, who am I supposed to get the money from?"
Xie Yutang spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but Lin Tan's forehead twitched again.
He knew this woman wasn't so kind. She claimed to be helping him, but in reality, she had already set her sights on his money. That day, he confided in Xie Yutang that the wealthy merchants of Jiangnan were his most important asset, especially Shen Gan, the president of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce. This man was incredibly wealthy, and having him pay for the banquet would save the court a considerable amount of money.
But precisely because she had something to ask of him and was using him, it actually put him at ease.
Lin Tan asked, "Since there are two deputy envoys, who is the other one?"
If it were that guy surnamed Su, he would definitely take this opportunity to "get to know" this colleague.
But Xie Yutang gave him an unexpected name: "Prefect of Yingkou - Song Zhen".
This man rose to fame because of the case of smuggling military equipment. He rode alone for three hundred miles at night to persuade the General's Office to send troops south. It is no exaggeration to say that he saved Xie Yutang's life. Moreover, this man is good at social maneuvering and has a silver tongue. It would be appropriate for him to serve as another deputy envoy.
Thinking of this, Lin Tan finally smiled and, for the first time, bowed to Xie Yutang with heartfelt admiration, saying, "In that case, I will obey the orders of the escort envoy."
*
When Song Zhen heard that Xie Yutang wanted to appoint him as deputy envoy to receive the Northern Rong delegation together with the Third Prince, he initially refused.
Although the Third Prince was known for his kindness and gentleness, Song Zhen always felt that the man was fake and really didn't want to deal with him much. As for Xie Yutang, this young lady was an ancestor that no one dared to offend. She even took the young master of the prestigious Muqing Prince's Mansion as her male concubine. How could Song Zhen be so foolish as to serve these two powerful figures?
But after Xie Yutang invited Song Zhen to the council hall for a long talk behind closed doors for an hour, Song Zhen changed his mind and happily accepted the task. He worked hard every day, doing his job well.
Lin Tan was in charge of handling the monetary gifts, Song Zhen was in charge of arranging and considering all the details, big and small, while Xie Yutang took charge of overall planning and grasping the general direction. The three-person team was extremely efficient. Officials who initially had some complaints about Xie Yutang gradually shut up after seeing the various tasks being carried out in an orderly manner.
After busying themselves for half a month, the day before the reception banquet finally arrived.
All the procedures had been arranged. On the last day, Xie Yutang checked all the details and gave everyone a day off. She went back to her residence, took a bath, and went to bed early. When she woke up, it was almost dawn. Xie Yutang closed her eyes and rested for a while before asking Huaijin to serve her in the morning.
Soon, a knocking sound came from outside the door. After she answered, the person brought hot water to the bedside. Xie Yutang still kept her eyes closed, going through the arrangements for today's reception banquet in her mind, and only lazily stretched out a hand from under the brocade quilt.
Her hand was delicate and adorned with red nail polish, her fingertips glistening with moisture. A string of red tourmaline beads adorned her wrist, resembling snowflakes on plum blossoms, which further accentuated her fair, jade-like skin.
The other person paused slightly, then placed the handkerchief on the back of her hand.
A warm, moist sensation instantly washed over her. A hand with distinct bones and fingers supported her palm, while the other hand gently wiped each of her finger bones with a cotton handkerchief.
The room was filled not only with the incense Huaijin had lit the night before, but also with a faint, ethereal scent of cold snow.
Xie Yutang sensed something was wrong, opened her eyes, and saw Su Lu kneeling in front of her, wiping her wrists.
The steaming vapor created a small mist on his eyelashes, and his lowered gaze and bowed head made it seem as if he were treating a unique treasure.
It's hard for anyone to remain unmoved by such precise and carefully cherished attention.
Su Lu's fingertips twitched slightly unconsciously, then he stopped and looked up at her: "Your Highness?"
"...Didn't I tell you to rest?"
Xie Yutang remained silent for a while before speaking, her voice slightly hoarse, a trait she herself hadn't expected.
Su Lu then poured more tea and brought it over. The tea was neither too hot nor too cold, and the temperature was just as comforting as the man himself.
"Doesn't the master like me to serve him?"
Xie Yutang swirled her cup, lowered her eyes, and said, "Your Highness is so considerate. I'm afraid that once you leave the manor, I will no longer be able to tolerate being served by others."
Su Lu took the cup and placed it on the low table. He wiped her hands clean, straightened his sleeves, wrung out a new cotton handkerchief from the copper basin, folded it into a long strip, and covered her eyes.
The warm steam, mixed with the crisp, cold air of snow, relaxed her body and mind, making her want to lazily immerse herself in it. She heard his voice, as soft as brocade, with a slight smile: "Since Master is used to using me, why shouldn't I continue to serve Master?"
How could that be?
Xie Yutang remained silent. The brilliant and talented young Prince Muqing, clad in silver robes and soft armor, stood on his warhorse. In his simple white robes amidst the clinking of cups, he resembled a snow-capped mountain peak untouched by the world. In the Qiongyao Palace, he brought gifts and smiled gently at her to celebrate her birthday. Every aspect of him, every moment, was too bright and dazzling.
How could she clip the wings of an eagle that should soar through the sky and lock it away in the three thousand palaces?
Xie Yutang smiled silently, taking it as him trying to make her happy.
"Today's reception banquet will be attended by all officials of the rank of governor or above in the court, including—" Xie Yutang paused slightly, looked up at him, "General Su, Prince Muqing, Su Chengyu."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
