Xin He’s delicate eyebrows knitted in slight frustration, "Hmm. You may leave now."
She wasn’t much aware of the affairs in the Imperial Court, and didn’t care to interfere too much.
The next morning.
While Xin He was taking breakfast, Shulan came in carrying a tray with three or five delicate nanmu boxes on it, "Miss, the jewellery that the old lady had ordered from Liufuxuan for you has arrived this morning. Would you like to take a look?"
While speaking, she brought the tray to Xin He’s side. Xin He wasn’t too interested in jewellery, but it would be impolite to reject the old lady’s good intentions. She casually picked up a box from the pile and opened it to find a conspicuous note lying on top of several golden hairpins.
"Mingyuhu, waiting for you."
From the vigorous strokes of the message, she could guess the writer without even having to think about it.
What was this man playing at now?
Xin He closed the box with a snap, and said to Shulan with an unruffled expression, "I quite like them, put them away for me. I’m going out for a while today, have someone prepare a carriage for me."
Shulan bowed her body and responded with an "Yes," before exiting.
Xin He took her handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth, then got up, "Clear the breakfast, I’m done eating."
A few second-class maids immediately stepped forward to clean up.
Xin He got up and walked out, "Xiaoyu, come out."
"Yes."
Only when they were alone in the courtyard did Xiaoyu speak, "Miss, are you going out today?"
"Hmm, I may be stepping out, but your duties haven’t eased up at all. They’ve held back until now and they’re probably playing their trump card," Xin He’s face was cold.
She didn’t believe that Lady Sun could continue to endure. After all, her existence was already a threat to Lady Sun. She had even openly introduced Li Junyan the last time, hence a grudge must have formed.
Xiaoyu nodded, "This servant understands."
Xin He turned to look at her, her eyes deep, "Do well this time, and I’ll let you replace Jinxiu."
To Lady Sun, Jinxiu was now merely a waste. She was very likely to be abandoned. If Lady Sun were to abandon her, Xin He wouldn’t keep her as well. She hadn’t made a decision yet because she was waiting for Lady Sun’s trump card.
Xiaoyu’s eyes sparkled with brightness, "Thank you, Eldest Miss! This servant will surely carry out your orders!"
Xin He lifted the corner of her mouth slightly then turned and walked away.
Outside the mansion, Shulan had already prepared the horse carriage for Xin He. After Xin He had gotten on, she instructed Shulan to stay at the mansion. She was going to see Marquis Mu, and it wouldn’t be convenient with someone else tagging along.
Mingyuhu, the largest and most beautiful lakeside view in the capital city, oftentimes referred to as the royal garden. It was summer, and the lotus flowers were in full bloom. Although the lotus pond couldn’t compare to the refinement of the Hou Mansion, it looked more natural and spectacular.
The carriage stopped by the Mingyuhu lake. Although it was very hot outside, the trees around Mingyuhu provided ample shade. Occasionally, a cool breeze would pass by, which felt very comfortable. Xin He got off the carriage with a fan in hand, and looking at this delicate landscape, she felt unusually refreshed and gratified.
She looked up at the pavilion by the lake and saw Marquis Mu, leisurely sipping tea. There was no one else around, she wondered if he had abused his authority again······
"Why have you called me here? Couldn’t you have just come to see me directly? Why go to the trouble of slipping a note in a box, like some clandestine affair," Xin He casually sat opposite to Marquis Mu, her fan waving in an even livelier manner.
Marquis Mu cracked a smile and poured her a cup of tea himself, "At this point in time, if I were to visit your mansion, I’m afraid I might get booted out."
Xin He raised her eyebrows and put a halt to the fanning she was doing. She took the cup of tea he had offered, "What do you mean?"
"Don’t you know? The enemy forces are stirring near the Mingyue Pass and Le Yuanhou wishes to lead his troops into war, but the Emperor categorically refused it. Le Yuanhou surely couldn’t say anything in front of the Emperor, but he must be seething inside," Marquis Mu picked up the fan from the table and sat beside her, fanning her.
This little lady is afraid of the cold in winter and the heat in summer, truly a delicate one!
Xin He suddenly remembered the rumour Shulan mentioned, and asked skeptically, "I heard from someone that it’s thanks to you the emperor refused Le Yuanhou’s request, is that true?"
"Mm, the emperor asked for my opinion, and I recommended against letting Le Yuanhou go," said Marquis Mu.
"But why?" Xin He was rather amazed.
"Court affairs, everything is interconnected, a pull on one thing can move the whole," Marquis Mu’s expression became a tad serious, "Even if I had advised the emperor that day to let Le Yuanhou lead the troops, he wouldn’t have allowed it." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Xin He’s eyes blinked, "Is it because Le Yuanhou once served under the previous dynasty?"
Marquis Mu curved the corner of his lips, "My wife truly is clever."
Xin He shot him a light annoyed look, then said, "Let it be, I’m too lazy to deal with court matters."
"Even though you’re lazy to deal with it, your father does want to participate. He probably hates me to the bone right now. Fortunately, I decided this a few days ago, otherwise if I had gone today, I might have been directly driven away," Marquis Mu chuckled softly.
The emperor is extremely sensitive to the matters of the previous dynasty. It’s said that being with the emperor is like being with a tiger, outsiders easily assume Marquis Mu is powerful and the emperor listens to him on all matters, taking it for granted that it’s a walk in the park for him. But is it ever that simple?
Regarding the Le Yuanhou case, an emperor will never trust ministers from the previous dynasty. Le Yuanhou was now in a high position but he openly disobeyed the emperor and supported Le Yuanhou’s troops. How could the emperor not suspect him?
He is the grandson of the previous emperor, and it is precisely because of this identity that he has to distance himself from Le Yuanhou even more. Otherwise, any slight mistake might stir up another torrent of bloodshed.
To this day, he has always been making his calculated maneuvers with a plan in mind, all for a bloody coup, but now that she has appeared, his entire plan has changed. Naturally, he has to suppress his past as much as possible, and it would be more appropriate to be on opposing terms with Le Yuanhou.
However, the emperor’s casual question has led to so many calculations and thoughts. Being in his position, how could things be as simple as outsiders think?
Xin He took a sip of tea and looked up at him, "Did you come to see me today for this matter?"
Marquis Mu fanned her lightly and laughed softly, "I’m afraid you’ll get upset, so I specifically chose this beautiful spot to placate you."
Xin Hem harrumphed discontentedly, "Am I so petty?"
Could it be possible for her to think that he had deliberately opposed her father? She didn’t even care about the matter.
Marquis Mu pinched her palm, "Who says you’re not petty? The last time I was injured, when I said it didn’t hurt, you accused me of lying to you. If I don’t explain this incident to you, I won’t feel at ease."
In fact, he just missed her.
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