Chapter 176 An Explanation
Bianjing, north of the city.
Yufu Garden.
This is a private manor with its gates closed all year round. Although people often pass by this manor, few people know what it looks like inside.
In the evening, a few golden rays of sunset shone through the dark clouds in the sky, making the manor glow with golden light.
A carriage stopped in front of the manor, and Gu Xun was the first to jump off the carriage.
Then Cuizhi got off the carriage, followed by Xie Rongying and Dongxue.
The people in front of the manor saw Xie Rongying and her servants coming, walked down the stone steps, led the horses, and said to Xie Rongying respectfully, "Young Madam, please come in."
Xie Rongying nodded to the guard leading the horse, then walked towards the manor gate.
As soon as she entered the gate, she saw a woman coming out from the right side of the screen wall. When she saw Xie Rongying coming, her expression paused slightly, and she stepped forward respectfully: "Young Madam, you are here."
Xie Rongying looked at the woman in front of her. She remembered this person.
She is the shopkeeper of Fengle Tower. It was from this woman that I bought the portrait of Shangguan Yan last time.
"We meet again." Xie Rongying smiled. "You're here. Could it be that the boss you mentioned last time is Prince Wei?"
Luo Jin laughed: "I didn't expect that the young lady still remembered me. I am so honored."
After saying that, he glanced at Cuizhi Dongxue beside Xie Rongying, and finally his gaze lingered on Gu Xun for a moment.
Xie Rongying listened to Luo Jin's ambiguous response and smiled lightly.
"Your Highness has been waiting for a long time, please come in, young madam." Luo Jin made a "please" gesture.
Xie Rongying nodded.
Luo Jin walked in front, and Xie Rongying and his servants walked behind, keeping some distance from Luo Jin.
After walking through a cobblestone path, passing through a winding corridor, and passing through two hanging flower gates, you will arrive at a small building called Xiaying.
Luo Jin stopped and was about to tell Xie Rongying to wait a moment while she went to report first when she heard a voice from the small building: "Please invite the young lady in."
Luo Jin bowed slightly, made a gesture of invitation, and said respectfully: "Young Madam, please."
Xie Rongying nodded slightly and walked towards the cottage.
Dongxue and Cuizhi followed, while Gu Xun looked around vigilantly. Only after he felt that there was no danger did he walk into the cottage.
Luo Jin's gaze lingered behind Gu Xun for a moment before she followed him.
"Your Highness, your humble servant greets you." Xie Rongying bowed.
Zhao Yu said calmly, "Young Madam, please take a seat."
Xie Rongying sat down opposite Zhao Yu. On the table were several plates of her favorite cakes and tea. Her eyebrows raised slightly as she asked, "Your Highness, is there anything you want to see me about?"
Seeing Xie Rongying speak frankly, Zhao Yu's eyes became less complicated and he smiled lightly: "The people around me have caused trouble to the young lady. Today I want to apologize to the young lady."
Xie Rongying was a little surprised: "Apologize? What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Zhao Yu knew what Xie Rongying was talking about: "I have no knowledge of that woman from Youqing Tower. Chang Yue's actions were probably just to help the young lady resolve the problem quickly. As for the matter of the Shi family, I just learned about it."
"Really?" Xie Rongying didn't doubt Zhao Yu's words. After all, the King of Wei wouldn't be so foolish as to target the Xie family at this time. She raised an eyebrow and said, "So, the woman in Youqing Tower obeyed the Shi family's orders, and the prince was completely unaware of it?"
"I don't know." Zhao Yu's tone was casual, but with a hint of firmness.
Xie Rongying smiled faintly: "Your Highness is unaware of this, but the Shi family is indeed under the command of your King Wei. This is a bit contradictory. After all, the Shi family and my Xie family are old friends, and Shi Yang and my father are also close friends. Why would the Shi family use such a woman to get close to my father?"
The implication is that you, King Wei, should give an explanation.
"Young Madam may not understand me." Zhao Yu picked up the teapot and filled the cup, then placed it in front of Xie Rongying. "My mother and I have always had some disagreements."
Xie Rongying's hand, which had just grasped the teacup, froze, and she looked up at Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu smiled faintly: "For example, I want to take back what belongs to me without damaging Dayin's foundation, but my mother wants to destroy the enemy's foundation first, then cut off the enemy's arms and take back her power."
Upon hearing this, Xie Rongying tightened her grip on the teacup slightly and frowned.
"Dayin is currently plagued by internal and external troubles. Not only are the Jin people plotting against Dayin, but the Liao people are also." Zhao Yu's brows furrowed slightly as he spoke of this, a hint of worry on his face. "My mother has some womanizing views. She would like to kill the court officials who are loyal to Emperor Rende without delay."
As he spoke, Zhao Yu picked up the teacup and chuckled, "Don't worry, I will give you an explanation for what the Shi family did, and similar things will never happen again."
Although Xie Rongying had already guessed that it was the Empress Dowager's intention, she was still a little frightened when she heard it from Zhao Yu's mouth.
If the Empress Dowager wanted to destroy the Xie family to achieve her goal, after the beginning of Youqing Tower, there will definitely be a next time.
"Why should I trust you?" Xie Rongying let go of the teacup and stared at Zhao Yu without blinking. "What the Empress Dowager did is good for you now, but it will lead to the destruction of my family."
The atmosphere in the cottage was a little strange.
Luo Jin, who was standing behind Zhao Yu, stared at Xie Rongying warily.
At the same time, Gu Xun stared at Zhao Yu vigilantly.
"The one who benefits is you, King Wei. Can you abandon the path paved for you by the Grand Empress for the sake of profit?" Xie Rongying spoke with a cold expression. "Don't say you don't want to harm the foundation of the Great Yin. On the road to overthrowing imperial power, harming the foundation of the Great Yin is inevitable."
"You're right." Zhao Yu said slowly, "But this prince has never gained any benefits from my mother from the beginning to the end. Of course, if you want to talk about my status and position, I have nothing to say."
Xie Rongying pondered for a moment and raised an eyebrow: "You mean, you and the Empress are... two different forces?"
"Ever since the prince fell seriously ill, the Empress Dowager has arranged a lot of staff around him. Rather than calling them staff, it is better to say that the Empress Dowager wants the prince to become her puppet of power." Luo Jin spoke at this time.
When Xie Rongying heard the word "puppet", a chill ran down her spine. She looked at the slightly sick look between the brows of the man opposite her and seemed to understand something.
Just when the atmosphere in the small building was tense, a voice rang out from outside: "Your Highness, the eldest son of the Shi family wants to see you. He said that Lord Shi Yangshi and the third son Shi Mingyu disappeared the day before yesterday and have not been found yet."
Zhao Yu's gaze fell on Xie Rongying.
Xie Rongying smiled faintly: "Why is your Highness looking at me like this?"
Zhao Yu stood up, nodded and smiled: "Young Madam, please wait for a moment."
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