As Xue Rui had expected, when he left Baochang Street and returned to the Prime Minister's fu, Xue Lingnan was already waiting for him. The grandfather and grandson talked for a long time in the study. They couldn't help but disagree on whether or not to use the Tenth Princess's death to suppress Ning Wang.
Xue Lingnan had found out the truth two years ago. It wasn't that he didn't collect evidence that pointed to Ning Wang, but because Emperor Zhao Qing wanted to protect him, he had no choice but to give up. Now that Emperor Zhao Qing was beyond cure and Ning Wang was only one step away from the position of Crown Prince, Xue Lingnan and Imperial Consort Xue both thought that if they didn't act now, it would be too late when Ning Wang stabilized his position in the Eastern Palace. So they decided to act.
What surprised Xue Rui was that Imperial Consort Xue had managed to secretly swap one of the Tenth Princess's personal palace maids out of the palace. This palace maid happened to know everything about the Tenth Princess and Kong Qi's private dealings. Also, when the Tenth Princess jumped down from Guan Hai Tower, it was this palace maid who had brought Xue Jinxun to the scene of the incident.
"Kong Qi is controlled by Ning Wang. I have a way to make him bite back at Ning Wang. But no matter if it's the palace maid or Kong Qi testifying against Ning Wang, it won't be enough to attract attention. The best is to have your yimei use the name of the Art of Death and cooperate with you to put on a show in the morning court. Only then can we catch Ning Wang off guard."
Xue Lingnan's tone was as though everything was ready and waiting for the final push. He didn't even consider if Xue Rui would refuse his arrangements.
"Grandfather, have you ever thought that if we do this, the Tenth Princess's reputation will be completely ruined. Will the Empress ignore this?" Xue Rui didn't want Yu Shu to bear the risk of failure and changed the topic.
Xue Lingnan said coldly, "Do you think the Empress didn't detect the Tenth Princess's strange death? In order to protect her daughter's innocence, she caused your aunt to lose her child. It was the Empress who was heartless first. Now, I don't have to worry. Will she stop us from targeting Ning Wang to protect the Tenth Princess's reputation? "
Xue Rui felt the irony. Just as Xue Lingnan said, if it was to suppress Ning Wang. Even if the scandal of the Tenth Princess having an affair with another person was exposed, the Empress would probably bite her teeth and swallow it.
It seemed that his grandfather and aunt had already discussed this in secret. They were just waiting for him to act as a lobbyist and use Yu Shu's reputation to increase their odds of success.
Xue Lingnan's eyes were vicious. Xue Rui hesitated. "What's wrong? Is it that the young lady is unwilling to take the lead?"
Xue Rui quickly retracted his expression. He lowered his head and said: "Why is she unwilling? Ning Wang sees her as a thorn in his side because of the Death Ending Wondrous Art and wants nothing more than to get rid of her. It wasn't that she didn't want to have a chance to help, but she wasn't alone. Her entire family depended on her. If she couldn't expose Ning Wang's crimes this time, the one who would suffer the most would be her. She and I are like siblings, I can't let a girl like her take this risk. "
Xue Lingnan stared at Xue Rui for a while and suddenly sneered. He said: "Like siblings? You really think that my old eyes can't see. You and that Yu Lianfang clearly have an affair, right? "
Xue Rui's back stiffened slightly. When he raised his head, he revealed a face of shock: "How can this be, how can you misunderstand me and her — —"
"Enough," Xue Lingnan impatiently interrupted his sophistry and almost bluntly exposed him, "Last time, you lied to me and said that there was a girl you liked. You lied that it was Princess Chun Wei of the Prince of Dongjing's Residence and I believed it. But when you learned that the Jiang Family mother and daughter had escaped Jing, you didn't show any worry or abnormality. I could see that you were wrong. Also, you have always been steady in your conduct, but for a girl, you used your position to take revenge. You beat Yin Zhourong's youngest son into a cripple, and you still dare to say that you didn't have an affair with that girl? "
Xue Rui grimaced inwardly. So he had given himself away during the escape of the Jiang Family mother and daughter, and his grandfather had discovered the clues.
"You don't have to hide it. Today is not the past. If it was two months ago, if I knew that you liked a wild girl of shady origins, I would not have agreed no matter what. But now the situation has changed. As long as she agrees to expose Ning Wang, I will no longer interfere with your matters. After the matter is over, if you want to marry her, I will send someone to her family to propose. "
Xue Rui had never thought that Xue Lingnan would say such a thing. He was speechless as he listened to the magnanimous tone. He confirmed that the other was not joking and instantly became suspicious.
He had originally thought that his grandfather knew the secret of the Great An calamity, and suspected that the two murders in Taishi Library were secretly instigated by him in order to assassinate the Fate Breaker and disturb the Imperial Family of the Great An. But why did his grandfather act as if he did not know that Yu Shu was the Fate Breaker, and did not know the power of the Fate Breaker.
What was the explanation for Chief Steward Xu, who was wanted on the imperial list, and the sudden disappearance of the Taishi Library? Was his grandfather deliberately confusing him, or did he have a misunderstanding?
Many thoughts flashed through Xue Rui's mind, but it was only a matter of an instant. When he met Xue Lingnan's hawk-like gaze, he reacted quickly, revealing a surprised and doubtful expression. He said, "You really agree to let me marry her?"
Xue Lingnan expressionlessly asked him, "Is this old man someone who doesn't keep his word?"
Xue Rui clenched his fists, unable to disguise his excitement as he said, "I know, I will go find her tomorrow."
Xue Lingnan pursed his lips in a satisfied smile, and then exhorted him with a few words. It was nothing more than telling him to be careful and not reveal his tracks. Xue Rui agreed one by one. Finally, taking advantage of Xue Lingnan's good mood, he asked for permission to visit Xue Lingnan's mother in the backyard.
When Xue Rui walked out of the study room, it was already the middle of the night. The courtyard was very quiet. Bao De was walking in front with a lantern in his hand, illuminating the way. If he were to turn his head around, he would be able to see a pair of eyes that were darker than the night sky.
Not long after he left, a black shadow flashed into the study. Xue Lingnan sat motionless behind the mahogany marble table, looking at the person as if he was used to it. He slowly spat out a turbid breath and said tiredly,
"Go back and tell your master that Cheng Bi does not know much and will not affect the overall situation."
The person in the shadow said in a low voice, "I implore the Prime Minister to explain in detail so that I can go back and report."
Xue Lingnan frowned. Although he was unhappy, he still opened his mouth and said, "He probably only knows who the Great An calamity is and who the Fate Breaker is, but he does not know how to break the Fate Breaker or what happened."
"Many thanks, Prime Minister. This one asks to be excused."
The window door gently opened and closed without a sound. The candlestick on the study table flickered with a bright yellow flame, illuminating the countless wrinkles on Xue Lingnan's face and revealing his old age.
***
Yesterday, the Great Minister had announced that Ning Wang was supervising the country. The entire court had been shocked and the news had spread through the city. Yu Shu did not know what had changed in the other yamens, but when she came to the Celestial Commissioner Office today, she clearly found that something was different.
At the clock tower, she had encountered two officials from the Tai Cheng Bureau talking loudly about how wise it was for the Emperor to appoint Ning Wang as the supervisor of the country. Yu Shu couldn't help but glance at the two. The other detected her gaze and did not come forward to greet her. Instead, they raised their necks and walked away.
Yu Shu raised an eyebrow and turned to go to Kun Ling Bureau. She had only taken a few steps when someone lightly followed her and said in her ear, "Left Magistrate Cao is His Highness Ning Wang's maternal uncle. This time, the Tai Cheng Bureau has straightened its back."
Left Magistrate Cao was the senior officer of the Tai Cheng Bureau. Ning Wang was in power, it was no wonder that the people of the Tai Cheng Bureau were cocky.
She glanced at Wen Shao 'an who was walking silently and asked him, "Today is a double day. Shouldn't you be going to Taishi Library for lessons? Why did you run over?"
Wen Shao 'an said dispiritedly, "Such a big thing has happened, this subordinate doesn't have the mood to study. Daren has good self-restraint and doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all."
Yu Shu lightly snorted and teased him, "You can't keep your composure. What did I usually teach you? Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. I don't worry, what are you worried about?" However, this boy had the self-awareness of being her trusted aide and couldn't let Ning Wang have an easy time. This point was worth praising.
The two chatted as they entered Kun Ling Bureau. Yu Shu finally found that Wen Shao 'an wasn't an exception. The subordinates and officials all had dispirited expressions and their complexions weren't good. The entire bureau was filled with a dispiritedness that could be seen with the naked eye.
This wasn't surprising. Jing Chen and Liu Tan had been fellow shishu and nieces at Mount Longhu. Many people knew this. Adding on that she and Xue Rui called each other brother and sister, Kun Ling Bureau had become one of respect for King Wang's faction. Everyone was in danger.
Yu Shu was infected by this group of people and couldn't laugh. Otherwise, she would appear too heartless. The entire morning passed in a heavy atmosphere until the Chief Supervisor sent someone to summon her.
Her intuition told her that the Chief Supervisor would not be looking for her at this time. She was careful along the way. When she arrived at Tai Xi Lou, she entered the door and saw Jing Chen sitting to the right of the Chief Supervisor with an unhappy expression. Her heart jumped.
Zhu Muzhao smiled at Yu Shu and waved his hand pleasantly, saying, "You are here. Sit quickly." He pointed at the chair opposite Jing Chen for her to sit down and then said, "Yun Hua and I were good friends when he was alive.
"Yun Hua and I were good friends when he was alive. Although I didn't watch Jingchen grow up, I saw him as a nephew. His parents are not around, and His Majesty is worried about him. This morning, when he left the capital for Huazhen Garden, His Majesty entrusted the matter of his marriage to me. I asked Jing Chen privately and knew that he was interested in you. So I volunteered to be a matchmaker and help the two of you get together. You don't need to be embarrassed. Give me a definite answer today so that I can arrange your marriage. "
Yu Shu was stunned. She didn't forget to do a divination before going to bed last night. Why didn't she predict that the Chief Supervisor would come out today to help her get a matchmaker? She suddenly turned her head to look at Jing Chen and shouted at him with her eyes — — What's going on?!
Jing Chen returned a helpless expression to her. He stood up and said to Zhu Muzhao, "Uncle, she is a girl and has a mother. How can she decide on her own marriage? Why don't you let her go home and discuss it with Madam Yu before giving a reply?"
Zhu Muzhao's smile didn't fade. He glanced at him and then looked at Yu Shu again, "That's fine. Go back and talk to your family and give me a definite answer tomorrow."
Yu Shu opened her mouth to refuse, but Jing Chen turned his back to the Chief Supervisor and stopped her with his eyes.
Yu Shu jumped over his shoulder and saw the Chief Supervisor slowly put away his smile and his eyes that seemed to be covered with fog. Her heart trembled and she swallowed her saliva, "I'm afraid I can't explain it clearly in one night. Let me go back and think about it. I will give you an answer the day after tomorrow, okay?"
Zhu Muzhao looked at her indifferently and said, "Okay." (To be continued)
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