Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Tell Me
The wheels rolled over the bluestone, and the carriage coming out of the imperial city splashed over the ground. Outside, the raindrops hit the hood of the carriage, making a sound of raindrops. Inside, the incense was curling, accompanied by the aroma of freshly brewed tea.
Su Shang sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, listening to the sound of rain outside, and some past events emerged in his mind.
"Brother Mingyue! Brother Mingyue!"
A sudden change occurred during the night of Shangsi. The whereabouts of the emperor were unknown and the whole city was under martial law. Shangguan Li, then Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, stayed up for three sleepless nights in his office. He organized the search for the emperor with the imperial guards and worked with various government offices to stabilize the situation amid the chaos.
He and Shangguan Xu only met once during these three days, and that was the night Shangguan Xu was rescued. He rushed to make sure her life was not in danger.
Now, he had just come out of the imperial city and went to several suspicious places in the city to investigate. As a result, as soon as he got off the carriage, he heard two familiar and urgent young voices.
"Shichiro!"
Shangguan Li, who was a little absent-minded due to long-term fatigue, came back to his senses instantly when he saw the young man.
Sushant runs towards him.
"Brother Mingyue, please, hurry up and save His Highness!"
"What happened to Ah Xu!"
Su Shang's breathing was uneven. Shangguan Li held his shoulders and looked at him anxiously. At this moment, all the fatigue in Shangguan Li disappeared.
"Perhaps someone is trying to harm His Highness..." Su Shang's eyes flushed red, and he looked at Shangguan Li with a slight tremor in his pupils. He slowly said, "Your Majesty has found it."
Shangguan Li was stunned.
That day, Shangguan Li was on his way to the Qujiang Lake with Su Shang when a large group of Jinwu Guards suddenly arrived and stopped him. Xue Hong, the then General of the Jinwu Guards, rode out on horseback, and after him, the Prime Minister, Su Wang, arrived late.
In just a moment, Shangguan Li vaguely realized the reason for all that had happened since the night of Shangsi.
Sure enough, after the carriage was stopped, Xue Hong did not stop him from continuing to Qujiang, but instead took him all the way to Qujiang District.
That night, the sky was covered with dark clouds and the moon was completely obscured. Shangguan Li, escorted by a group of imperial guards holding torches, arrived at the bank of Qujiang River and saw the scarred "emperor" and his corpse with sword wounds all over his face and body.
He stared at the spot, unable to move for a long time as if his whole body was filled with mud and rocks.
When he finally regained his composure, he turned to look at Su Shang, who had been escorted to the Qujiang River with him. Tears welled up in Su Shang's eyes, and he seemed equally shocked by the scene. However, he saw the shape of Su Shang's mouth muttering—
"Your Highness."
Later, Shangguan Li returned home with Su Wang. Su Wang didn't know what the two talked about alone in the study. He only knew that five days later, when Shangguan Li came out of the room again, his gentlemanly demeanor had disappeared.
Su Shang did not ask him what happened, but went to find Su Wang alone after he left.
"It seems that he has agreed. Father, you should have got what you wished for. So don't forget what you promised me." After entering the room and sitting down, Su Shang went straight to the point.
Su Wang was not annoyed by his attitude, but responded gently and amiably: "Well, your father will keep his promise to you, but as for Xue Hong..."
"I know that father also needs to be at ease, so I won't stop him from doing that." Su Shang interrupted Su Wang and turned to look at Su Wang, "But father also has to promise me one thing - let me feed the medicine to her myself."
"this……"
"Father said he would keep his promise to me, but he kept adding conditions to my request. First, he said he was worried about the power outside and wanted the power of the Shangguan family. Then he said he wanted Xue Hong's heart and wanted to use poison to restrain her and Shangguan Mingyue. I really don't have confidence that my father will not make other requests or sudden ideas in the future."
"So I'll have the medicine inspected personally, and I'll be keeping it from now on. You can arrange for someone to watch over me. Even when we're finally doing it, I can feed it to that person in front of her, but the medicine must remain with me until the very end."
After saying that, Su Shang raised his brows slightly and softened his tone, "Father, can you satisfy me?"
Su Wang pondered for a moment and agreed.
The rain outside was getting heavier. Su Shang had been staying in his bedroom since returning home from the palace. He was lost in thought at the porcelain bottle in his hand, feeling the shaking of the pill inside.
How could he possibly poison her? Back then, he had gone to great lengths to remove the pill from the eye of the man his father had planted.
However, he also felt that letting her think she was poisoned wasn't such a bad thing. It was to control Shangguan Li before, and now wasn't it also to control her? He hadn't actually poisoned her, but if he could use this to make her feel at ease and get along with him, wouldn't it be a good thing?
——
The sound of rain grew louder and louder, accompanied by muffled rumbling thunder. The smell of earth seeped into the hall from every crack, mixing with the fragrance of peony flowers inside.
"Is there anything else you want to say to me?"
After saying that, Xu Qing'an stopped and suddenly raised his eyes with his back to her.
And behind him, her voice asked, "I've told you so much, don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Xu Qing'an turned around and slowly met her gaze. "Your Majesty's plan for the Divine Strategy Army is feasible, and I have nothing else to add."
Shangguan Xu raised his lips and smiled, took a step forward, and looked at him with interest.
"Besides what happened to the Shen Ce Army?"
"What is it?"
Seeing that he was completely confused, Shangguan Xu lowered his eyes, smiled for some unknown reason, then turned around and walked a few steps to the side.
She showed him her back and said as she walked, "Tell me, if I were really poisoned, what choice should I make now? Should I compromise, or fight to the death like I just said?"
Xu Qing'an suddenly clenched his fists.
He actually knew what she asked first. He wanted to pretend not to know and avoid the question, but he didn't expect her to ask the question directly.
He vaguely felt something.
Xu Qing'an smiled seemingly relaxedly and said, "Why make such assumptions? Your Majesty's situation is now clear. You should think more about what to do next. Thinking about these things will only make your Majesty feel uneasy."
Shangguan Xu: "But I just want to know the answer. If I can't figure it out, I won't be able to stop thinking about it." She turned around and asked him, "What do you think we should do?"
"Then think about other things and take your attention away from this."
"But humans are not plants or trees. How can we just let go of things we think about?"
Xu Qing looked at her quietly for a few moments: "Does Your Majesty really need an answer?"
Shangguan Xu nodded: "I really can't figure it out."
"Then if I tell you, Your Majesty, you will be able to communicate?"
"Those involved are often confused, but those who are on the sidelines can see things more clearly. Your words can be considered as a reminder to me."
"Then survive first."
Xu Qing'an continued, "No matter what, we must survive first. As long as we survive, there is hope. A desperate situation is never a good outcome."
Shangguan Xu lowered his eyes again and pondered, "If you were the one poisoned, would you also think about surviving first?"
"Yes," Xu Qing'an stared intently at the girl a few steps away, his eyes flickering as he spoke with unwavering sincerity, "If I were the one poisoned, I would also prioritize survival. Only by surviving can I have more choices and provide better and more possibilities for the people I care about."
After she finished speaking, she looked at him for a moment and smiled: "You are right, and that answers my doubts."
She turned her back to him again and took a few steps forward. "You just said that you think my plan for the Shen Ce Army is feasible. Then I think I'll leave everything else to you. Once the Shen Ce Army is properly handled, the capital will be completely under our control. Then you can go to Jiangnan to stabilize those aristocratic families and ensure that the Su family won't cause any trouble in the local area."
"I'm going to Jiangnan?!" Xu Qing'an asked immediately.
"Of course." Shangguan Xu turned around and replied calmly, even asking, "Haven't you thought about what to do next after the Shen Ce Army is properly settled? Su Wang is very powerful in the local area. Even if the capital is under control..."
"Even if his region is powerful, why should I go to Jiangnan to fight?" Xu Qing'an asked before Shangguan Xu finished speaking. He took a few steps in her direction and stopped in front of her, looking down at her condescendingly. "Let's not even talk about the recent changes in the Jiangnan families and how many new forces have sincerely pledged their allegiance to Your Majesty. Even with the changes we previously planned to make to the Jiangnan water transport system, the situation in Jiangnan wouldn't have gotten out of hand."
"Then go somewhere else." Shangguan Xu was unmoved. "You also know that Su Wang has deep roots. He used water transport to make money and gave benefits to many local officials. After his downfall, those people will be liquidated."
"So you're just leaving this to me?"
“I don’t trust other people.”
"So how long do you plan to keep me out?"
Shangguan Xu thought seriously: "This matter must be carried out with full force and cannot be abandoned halfway."
"That means I will liquidate all remnants of the Su family from south to north, from west to east, throughout the entire Great Jin." Xu Qing'an gritted his teeth and restrained himself, "But this will not be accomplished in a short time."
Shangguan Xu was extremely calm: "I know, but Yan Rong..." She ignored his hidden resistance and raised her hand to gently caress his cheek. "Don't you want to be the prime minister? I'm helping you. As long as you gain experience for a few years outside, you can become the prime minister after you come back."
"I am now the Minister of the Central Secretariat. Once the Su family is defeated, I can also be appointed as the Prime Minister for my contribution to the Empress."
"But the ministers will not obey you."
"Shangguan Xu!" Xu Qing'an could no longer restrain himself, "Do you really want me to leave you?"
"I'll say it again, I'm helping you." Shangguan Xu chuckled. "You're really weird. You were the one who said you wanted to work with me, and you were the one who said you wanted to ascend to the top. But in the end, no matter what I said, you refused to do it. I really don't understand why you're so resistant."
"because I love you!"
In an instant, Xu Qing'an shouted out with red eyes. Shangguan Xu was startled, and Xu Qing'an's breathing was trembling. He tried to control it for a moment, then calmed down and whispered softly: "Because I love you, I don't want to..."
"Then you should just follow my instructions." But in an instant, Shangguan Xu's expression returned to its indifferent state. Aside from the slight redness in his eyes, there was nothing unusual. "Since you're so devoted to me, why aren't you willing to go? Don't you know that this will benefit your career and me in terms of controlling the situation?"
Xu Qing'an was stunned.
And what she said next seemed to be deliberately piercing his heart: "Or do you think that you and I are just having a secret affair, and you can't bear to leave the glory of the capital?"
Xu Qing'an was so surprised that he couldn't believe it and couldn't say anything for a long time.
Xu Qing'an looked at her slightly playful eyes, then suddenly lowered his eyes and smiled as if mocking himself. When he raised his eyes again, his eyes became deep and cold.
Shangguan Xu was frightened by the change in his expression and his smile faded.
Xu Qing'an took a step forward, a vague smile on his lips, and pushed her back step by step.
"Do you really think so?" he asked coldly.
Shangguan Xu's heart began to beat: "Of course."
As she spoke, her back had already touched the wall. She had no way to retreat and could only stop, while he leaned over and put his lips to her ear.
"Then think so, Your Majesty. Being with Your Majesty, whether it's a momentary affair or a long-lasting one, I'm completely intoxicated and unable to extricate myself. And Your Majesty, don't forget, you know the talented people around me, so you should also know that if I don't want to leave the capital, no one can force me to leave."
"I want the ambition to be with you, and I want to be happy with you. I insist on staying by your side. What can you do?"
A warm breath passed by, and Shangguan Xu said coldly: "Then I will kill you."
Xu Qing'an froze in place for a moment.
His mind went blank, and he turned his head to look for her gaze, as if he was trying to find evidence that the words he had just heard were hallucinations.
But she met his gaze and said calmly, "There's no true love, it's all fake. After Su Wang falls, you will be my greatest rival, and then I will kill you." "Hmm!" Shangguan Xu groaned, her collarbone pressed down, and her whole body was completely trapped between his palm and the wall. He was very strong, and the coldness in his eyes was stronger than ever. She hurriedly shouted, "What are you doing? Are you crazy!"
"Yes, I'm crazy!" He pressed her against the wall.
How could she say such a thing! She had clearly already...
His thumb stroked her neck, she was as fragile as a kitten under his palm, but now it was clearly his fault that she was in such a mess.
"How could you do this..."
His eyes were red, and he was clearly questioning, but he looked as humble as if he had been abandoned: "How could you do this!"
"You, you know that, right? You know that but you still deliberately say such things to provoke me, right?"
"Know what?" She replied calmly under his shadow.
Xu Qingan smiled with a trembling breath.
He looked at her, seeing the determination in her eyes, then dejectedly let go of her hand, lowered his eyes, and finally said like a defeated man: "Tell me, what do you want to hear..."
She looked at him, her eyes sore as she followed his movements: "Tell me, who are you? Who is lying in Pingling?"
"Who is this person standing in front of me?"
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