Li Xiaoxiao was straightforward and frank, "Lord Jin, you may not know this, but even though I am a recently divorced woman, I am far too unworthy of your time. I have refused before, and I hope you will not bring it up again."
Jin Senxian smiled and said nothing more. The three continued to discuss business cooperation. In the end, they signed a plan for a more ambitious territorial expansion, which was considered the end of the matter. The new agreement included purchasing and sharing orders for new dishes in countries outside of Northern Wei.
Those dishes included vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes.
With this order secured, Li Xiaoxiao would receive at least one or two thousand taels of gold annually. The Duke of Kaiguo, looking at these orders, was also curious, "How does Xiaoxiao recognize these foods and keep them?"
There are many rumors about Li Xiaoxiao, and Wu Hao also feels that he can't see through this granddaughter.
“These are all dreams given by immortals. The immortals also bestowed upon me a space, which is the ring you wore on your hand, grandfather. It can hold a lot of things. The immortals also gave me such a space.”
Li Xiaoxiao was casual, but the two people beside her thought about it carefully and became more and more convinced of this answer. It was the most reasonable explanation at present. Li Xiaoxiao saw their surprise and said, "The immortal said that this world is a restricted world, a world of punishment. Only by atoning for sins can the door to another world be opened."
This is the first sentence in the original book.
Wu Hao and Jin Senxian looked surprised. Wu Hao picked up the teacup on the table and began to drink tea. Jin Senxian's pupils inexplicably narrowed. It was only a momentary change, and Li Xiaoxiao felt that she must have seen wrong.
"I see."
Jin Senxian stood up abruptly, cupped her hands in a salute, and said, "I apologize, Prime Minister Wu, but I have urgent business to attend to. I will take my leave now. Please contact me again for further matters."
Although Wu Hao didn't understand, he still agreed.
Li Xiaoxiao hurriedly informed the Prime Minister that she had to deal with some matters. She had six months left before entering the Heavenly Stems Academy, and according to the predictions in the book, she needed to find a way to handle the matter of the Duke of Rong.
As soon as she finished speaking, the Duke of Kaiguo sighed, "Xiaoxiao, the Duke of Rongguo has the support of the Third Prince. The current emperor is on the verge of death, the Third Prince's power is at its peak, and the Third Prince also has the support of the Imperial Advisor. How can this matter be resolved so easily? Even if I knew about this, I could only turn a blind eye. Even if the Duke of Kaiguo's mansion controls the military, it is not that powerful. The Imperial Advisor is an unfathomable figure."
Li Xiaoxiao, however, refused to listen. "Grandfather, this is my duty. I'm afraid that the Imperial Preceptor must be eliminated, since his crimes are hard to clear."
The Duke of Kaiguo closed his eyes and then fell silent.
This is indeed a sin for the rest of my life.
The Duke of Kaiguo, gripping the teacup tightly, crushed it with a sudden burst of strength. Li Xiaoxiao left the mansion without saying goodbye. Meanwhile, the recent major events in the capital were causing quite a stir. The General received a letter of divorce, signed it immediately, and simultaneously executed four concubines in his mansion, preparing to turn his attention to the battlefield.
The General's Mansion instantly became the talk of the town, and what's more, the young lady of the General's Mansion did not return to the General's Mansion, but instead went to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
This matter also reached the ears of the Third Prince. He smashed a teacup in his mansion, trembling with anger. His carefully laid plans for ten years had been largely ruined. How could he not have known that Li Xiaoxiao was so good at stirring up trouble? First, the General's wife recovered from her illness and wanted a divorce. Then, all the concubines in the General's mansion were killed. Several of his secret agents were destroyed. With the General gone, half of his subsequent plans were paralyzed.
Clearly, as long as Wu Xinyue dies, they can force her and the Founding Duke to hand over the Tiger Tally. There are very few capable men among the Founding Duke's sons, and even fewer who can stand alone. One newly emerged Wu Shiyao is not enough, and now there is Li Xiaoxiao. I'm afraid that Wu Shiyao has already taken one of the Tiger Tally. After all, how could a woman who can make four men devoted to her be simple?
"I'm so angry, so angry! All my plans are ruined! I'm so angry! Li Xiaoxiao, Wu Shiyao, I won't let you get away with this!"
The Third Prince smashed all the furniture and porcelain in the room to pieces, making a huge noise throughout the room. The news of the Third Prince's actions quickly reached the ears of the Imperial Advisor, who continued to stand and play his flute, the long and beautiful sound emanating from it, as if he had not heard the servant's report. The servant finished his report and took his leave.
The Imperial Advisor, however, gazed at the riverbank with a tender look in his eyes, as if someone were standing in the river.
In the inner palace, the emperor was reviewing documents when this news reached his ears. He coughed, a pool of blood on his hand. Beside him was the Empress Dowager, who was making tea. Her face was rosy, and she gently advised, "My son, how much longer will you be sick? I heard recently that Wu Shiyao and Li Xiaoxiao have extraordinary items. Ask for one of them; it should help you get through some more time."
Tuoba Zi continued coughing, but shook his head. “Mother, you don’t know this. It’s not poison that can be cured. It’s a curse. I was just a prince born to a palace maid. I made a deal with the Grand Preceptor to get this position. Now the time limit is approaching. There’s something else I’ve been afraid to tell you. Your son has passed away. He died in the lake that the Grand Preceptor often visited.”
These words were like a bolt from the blue. The Empress Dowager never expected that her son, who had been missing for many years, would be so cruelly murdered. Her hand holding the teacup trembled uncontrollably, and she almost dropped it. Her other hand steadied it, and the water spilled onto the ground.
She stared at him in shock. The child she had raised for so long was actually an accomplice in killing her own child. She had been so foolish all these years.
No wonder they couldn't find any clues. She had almost forgotten about the child, loving him wholeheartedly, helping him ascend the throne, and even enduring being poisoned. The Empress Dowager couldn't bear it anymore and left with her eyes closed.
"I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first," she said, then staggered out of the study.
Not long after, Tuoba Zi collapsed onto the table and fell asleep, tears streaming down his face, muttering, "If only you were dead, if only I hadn't made this deal one day."
He can finally die peacefully, leaving everything to the people below. He's so tired, so very tired. If only you were really dead.
Finally, a tear rolled down Tuoba Zi's cheek, and the Imperial Advisor quietly appeared in the room.
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