Xue Lingnan listened to Xue Rui's words and looked at him suspiciously. "If so, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
The Jiang family was a conferred king with a different surname. They had been rooted in the northeast for generations and were a tyrant of a region. That Jiang Huaiying was young, but he had already accumulated many military achievements. He had no children, but he had a younger sister who he doted on a lot.
If Xue Rui had really taken a fancy to this Princess, then Xue Lingnan felt that it was worth pondering over.
Xue Rui said: "As soon as I returned to the capital, I went to the Supreme Court to take up my post. Only then did I realize that the Emperor's heart is unpredictable. His Majesty is afraid of Prince Dongjing's influence. If the Xue family and the Jiang family were to unite by marriage, we would be suspected. So I did not confess to you … I have missed this chance and will regret it for the rest of my life. I will not be stubborn for love again."
Xue Lingnan listened to his last sentence and looked at him meaningfully. "You know how to look at the big picture. I don't have to worry."
After saying that, he paused for a moment before continuing, "Let this old man think about this carefully before making a decision. You can leave first."
Xue Rui hesitated. "What about the marriage with the Earl?"
Xue Lingnan said: "Since you don't like it, I will not force you."
Xue Rui breathed a sigh of relief and left with a relaxed expression.
After he left, Xu Li came in and stood next to Xue Lingnan. He lowered his head and asked: "Does Master believe Eldest Young Master's words?"
"I believe, why wouldn't I believe?" Xue Lingnan clasped his hands together in front of his chest, closed his eyes and said lazily, "If Cheng Bi can pull the Jiang Family onto the boat, the chances of success in the future will be even greater. However, it is still too early now, we need to delay."
Xu Li said: "What about the Earl?"
"I heard that the Rui family's young lady made a fool of herself at the Hibiscus Banquet. How can a woman with a big mouth and no cleavage be a match for my child?"
Xu Li hesitated. "What if Eldest Young Master did not mention the Jiang princess today?"
"I'll find a good marriage partner for him as soon as possible. If the Count's Mansion doesn't work, there's still the Minister's Mansion or the Grand Preceptor's Mansion. Otherwise, I'll choose from the Twelve Prefectures."
"… So, Master suspects that Young Master has taken a liking to the female fortune-teller from Yiyang, so you're testing him?"
Xue Lingnan narrowed his eyes. "Ah Li, you talk too much today."
Xu Li was stunned and smiled bitterly in his heart. Eldest Young Master was brought up by Old Master, so wasn't he also a child who was raised by Old Master?
Xue Lingnan didn't pursue the matter. He tapped his fingers on his knees and said slowly, "This female fortune-teller seems to have appeared out of nowhere. She has no background, yet she's able to survive until today. It's a little strange."
Xu Li said, "Eldest Young Master's [Wang Ji Lou] is surrounded by an iron bucket, there is no way to investigate the inside. If Master is worried, I will send someone to keep an eye on her."
"… There's no need." Xue Lingnan raised his hand and waved it off. "With her strength alone, even if she's different, she won't be able to cause much trouble."
"Yes."
.....
Xue Rui left the upper room and passed through the corridors. His expression became serious. He had just confirmed two things from Xue Lingnan. First, the Emperor had the intention of establishing Ning Wang.
Second, Xue Lingnan was suspicious of the relationship between him and Yu Shu.
The Emperor had been on the throne for fourteen years, and the Eastern Palace had existed in name only. As more imperial princes came of age, there was a storm brewing in the court. Many people dreamed of the merit of ascending the throne and had already lined up.
Ning Wang had framed the Tenth Princess. The Emperor knew that he had committed a great crime but still protected him. It was clear how much weight Ning Wang held in his heart. If he didn't see him as the successor, how could he tolerate him framing his di daughter and wronging an official?
Xue Rui had a premonition that Ning Wang would most likely escape another calamity in this assassination case of the imperial envoy.
However, what worried him wasn't the Imperial Decree, but Xue Lingnan's attention to Yu Shu.
"I don't know if Grandfather knows about the matter of the Great An Disaster and the Fate Breaker." Xue Rui guessed.
He thought that Xue Lingnan wouldn't be completely ignorant, but he wouldn't know too much. At least, the identity of Yu Shu as the Fate Breaker was still a secret.
Even so, Xue Rui didn't dare take the risk of exposing his relationship with Yu Shu to Xue Lingnan.
Xue Rui knew very well that Xue Lingnan had suppressed the pain of losing his son and raised him. It wasn't for the sake of familial affection, but because the Xue family needed him, the eldest di grandson.
The Xue family didn't have many people. In his generation, the two branches added together only had him and Xue Kuangxu. The other sisters were mostly concubines and weren't of much use.
And it was precisely this kind of high official family that placed more importance on marriage. It wasn't that Xue Rui was belittling himself. In Xue Lingnan's eyes, his greatest use was probably to rope in a solid in-laws for the Xue family to form an alliance. In the future, they would support Liu Tan to ascend the throne and replace Liu Hao.
"Ha." Xue Rui had a self-deprecating expression.
If Xue Lingnan discovered that he and Yu Shu were in love with each other, he had plenty of ways to force him to submit.
But Yu Shu had the Emperor's spies by her side. If Xue Lingnan interfered, the other side would notice.
As long as the Great An Disaster existed, his relationship with Yu Shu would never see the light of day.
Therefore, he could only use a smokescreen to confuse Xue Lingnan and delay the marriage.
"Wait until I find out my background and parents, then I'll decide whether to stay or leave."
He did stay in the Northeast for two years, and he did get to know the Prince of Dongjing and his sister. As for Jiang Mia-
A figure flashed across Xue Rui's mind, and he instantly felt terrible.
"If she knew that I used her as a cover, she might whip me again."
How could Xue Lingnan know that the Prince of Dongjing, Jiang Huaiying's precious sister, the lively and lovely little princess he mentioned, was actually a witch.
Xue Rui's birthday banquet was held in the evening. The first to arrive was Feng Zhaomiao. This guy sneaked out of the barracks and climbed over the wall to enter the Xue Residence in the middle of the afternoon. He didn't dare to go through the main gate, for fear that he would be seen and heard by his father, the general, who would arrest him.
After dark, Ruilin, Qi Mingxiu, and Liu Tan also arrived one after another, followed by a few colleagues of the Supreme Court, two of the same rank as Xue Rui, and a few of his subordinates. They all came to congratulate him.
Soon, four tables were filled. The banquet was set under the veranda by the Full Moon Pond. A round table could accommodate eight people. Because Liu Tan and Xue Rui were sitting together, no one dared to act rashly. Only the Ruilin siblings, Qi Mingxiu, and Feng Zhaomiao were at the same table.
"There are still two empty seats, who hasn't arrived yet?" Qi Mingxiu pointed to the empty seat on the left of Xue Rui.
"Lotus Room hasn't arrived yet." Feng Zhaomiao stood up and stretched his neck to look around.
Xue Rui also wondered why Yu Shu hadn't arrived yet. "She said she would come with Little Six of the Xin family. Maybe she was delayed on the road."
Sitting next to Ruilin, Rui Zizhu and Xue Rui were facing each other across the two empty seats. They secretly looked at each other.
"Then let's wait before we start the banquet." Liu Tan smiled slightly. "It's not good to leave the lady behind and enjoy ourselves first."
Hearing this, everyone was puzzled. Feng Zhaomiao, who was confused, asked, "What lady are you talking about, Your Highness? Are you talking about Lotus Room? "
"Don't you know?" Liu Tan looked around at everyone's puzzled eyes. He turned to look at Xue Rui and said, "Cousin's sworn sister, Yu Suanzi, is now a Celestial Commissioner. Fangzheng is a fifth-ranked imperial woman."
As soon as this was said, everyone was surprised and immediately asked Xue Rui.
Xue Rui glanced at them and calmly replied to everyone.
At this time, Yu Shu and Xin Liu also arrived at the gate of the Xue family.
"It's really bad luck to meet a spirit on the road." Xin Liu got off the carriage and did not forget to pat his shoulder and head. He suspiciously said to Yu Shu, "It's Cousin Xue's birthday. We bumped into a dead person and then came to see him. Is it inauspicious?"
Yu Shu smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? I'm here."
Saying this, she shook the slender gift box in her hand. She showed the contents to Xin Liu on the road.
Xin Liu immediately clapped his hands and laughed. "Yes, you brought this treasure."
Asking the driver to wait on the opposite street, Yu Shu and Xin Liu took two steps towards the door. A figure flashed behind them. In a few steps, he walked in front of them and climbed the steps of the door.
Xin Liu tugged at Yu Shu. "Quick, look."
Yu Shu looked up and saw that the person was wearing a cloak that covered half of his body. He even wore a dusty bamboo hat on a hot summer day, hiding his head and face. It was very strange.
The person was stopped in front of the door by the guard. He stopped and threw something over.
"I want to see Xue Rui. Quickly go and inform him. If you delay my business, you will suffer."
Listening to the voice, it was a woman.
"Tsk, what a fierce woman." Xin Liu whispered to Yu Shu.
The person in the bamboo hat seemed to hear it. He suddenly turned his head and looked at the two people under the steps. He put his hand on his waist and said: "What did you say? Do you dare to say it again? "
Xin Liu was not afraid of trouble. He was about to answer, but he was stopped by Yu Shu. Yu Shu smiled and said to the woman in the bamboo hat: "My sister is young and offended you. Miss, please don't blame her."
Hearing this, the man glared at Yu Shu, snorted coldly, and turned around, ignoring the two of them.
Xin Liu looked at Yu Shu unconvinced. His small eyes were asking: Why are you afraid of her?
Yu Shu rolled her eyes: Are you stupid? Don't you see that there is a long whip wrapped around her waist? I can't stop it when it hits you.
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