Yuxi heard Han Jianming telling her to go back, yet she still didn't move. Of course, it was because Dage hadn't yet told her his own plan.
Yuxi sat on a chair and asked, "Dage, you still haven't told me what you're going to do about Heshou Xianzhu?" From Yuxi's posture, it gave out the meaning of 'I'm not going to leave until you tell me'.
"What's the use of telling you about it?" Han Jianming asked.
When Yuxi saw Han Jianming playing dumb, she was upset, "Dage, you asked me to tell you my plan, so I told you everything, word for word. And now you're not going to tell me anything. This is so unfair." As she saw that Han Jianming didn't utter a word, she continued, "As the saying goes, three unskilled cobblers are superior to one Zhuge Liang. So talk to me. Maybe I can help Dage by giving my advice as well."
Han Jianming responded with these words, "Blood debt is paid by blood."
Yuxi cried out, "Dage, do you want to assassinate Heshou Xianzhu? Isn't this inappropriate?" Heshou Xianzhu had been conferred with the title Xianzhu by the Imperial Family and was said to be auspicious by the Emperor's golden mouth and pearly words. If they killed Heshou Xianzhu, the Duke of the State's Residence wouldn't be able to eat it all, then they would only have to take it home.
Han Jianming's voice was indifferent while saying, "Since Heshou Xianzhu has made the State Residence into rivers of blood, then I'll also make the Qiao family into rivers of blood." Although not a single master of the State Residence died, more than fifty servants had perished, with more than eighty had been wounded. With this debt, he would definitely take them back from the Qiao family.
Yuxi cautiously asked, "Dage, this strategy indeed can really vent the grievances in your heart, but it is not appropriate! If you kill all the Qiao family, it will be unlikely for Qingyang Gongzhu not to respond. Our State Residence current foundation is too weak to bear this kind of retaliation."
Yuxi knew that Qingyang Gongzhu was not a smart person, and a smart person would not raise their children that turned out like Heshou and Qiao Meng. Nevertheless, a Gongzhu was still a Gongzhu. Even if Qingyang Gongzhu was not the Emperor's full-blood sister and she had no power in the capital, once she went crazy and retaliated, the State Residence would not be able to bear this kind of consequence.
Han Jianming naturally knew that this plan had its loopholes, "It is still under consideration." It was the presence of these complications that made him not put it into action. [+]
An idea floated in Yuxi's mind, "Dage, I think we can try painting while holding two brushes." The so-called painted while holding two brushes was to use the two schemes together.
After hearing Yuxi’s words just now, Han Jianming also had this idea in his mind, "It still needs to be improved."
Yuxi nodded. "Dage, can I sit in while you discuss with your aide?" After talking with Han Jianming, she saw many of her shortcomings. The most important thing was that her news was not only lagging behind but also inaccurate.
Han Jianming thought about it and nodded, "You can." He then turned his head and told the page boy to call Mr Zhao to discuss the matter.
When Mr Zhao listened to Yuxi's suggestion, his eyes brightened. "This trick of taking away firewood from under the cauldron is excellent." Yuxi's trick could make up for any shortcomings in their strategy.
Han Jianming and Mr Zhao discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using the two strategies together, as well as matters that needed them to pay more attention to. Yuxi listened quietly, without interrupting them.
Mr Zhao said, "Master Shizi, the Han family and Qiao family have already become sworn enemies, so there's no need for us to hide and let them pinch us anymore. We'll first use Fourth Miss' trick to make the world become defensive of Heshou Xianzhu. Then, we'll go after the Qiao family. Moreover, we'll also let everyone know that the State Residence is the one responsible for dealing with the Qiao family." Mr Zhao meant that they would find out what the Qiao family had done that was breaking the law and then send them all to prison while using law and decree to sanction them.
Yuxi understood right away once she heard it. First of all, they would make Heshou Xianzhu feared by everyone. Next, they would pull the Qiao family into the water. After that, they would let everyone in the Qiao family know that they were implicated because of Heshou Xianzhu, making them hate her. The means might be open and aboveboard, but none could find fault in them.
Han Jianming stated, "The Qiao family has been in the capital for so many years, so it is easy to find their dirty deeds." Whose family didn't have any dirty deeds? It was just a matter of how tightly they were covered, and when being suppressed, they would stay under control. As long as one set one's mind searching for it, one didn't have to worry about catching something about the Qiao family.
Yuxi's eyes were shining brightly. Since the Han family retaliated openly and aboveboard, even if Qingyang Gongzhu wanted to repay them, she would have some misgivings. In this way, the Heshou Xianzhu would be caught between two fires, "This is a good plan." Heshou Xianzhu thought that by foreseeing the future, she could call the wind and summon the rain while doing whatever she pleased. Now they would let Heshou Xianzhu know the pain herself so that she would realise how ignorant she was!
Han Jianming said, "They still need to be improved." Many minor details still need to be carefully considered to ensure that their attacks wouldn't miss their mark.
Mr Zhao nodded as he said, "Well, there's a lot of areas that need to be considered. In addition, for these matters to be successful, we have to require a helper." This helper, naturally, referred to Marquis Qingping.
Han Jianming was a man who could either bow or submit. Thus by borrowing power, he naturally would not waste much of his strength. "I'll take care of this matter."
It was precisely this morning that Yuxi could see a completely different world compared to it was before, where she also learned things that she could never learn just by reading from books.
After the discussion came to an end, Yuxi looked at Han Jianming with eager eyes and asked, "Dage, can I come over in the future to ask you if there's anything in the book that I don't understand?"
How could Han Jianming not know what's in Yuxi's mind, "If I'm not busy, you can come over." After a pause, he added, "If I'm busy, you can come over and ask Mr Zhao."
Yuxi was pleasantly surprised, and she looked at Mr Zhao. "Mister, is that ok?"
Since the master, Han Jianming, had already spoken, Mr Zhao naturally wouldn't shirk from it, "As long as Fourth Miss doesn't mind this old man of humble talent and shallow learning, Miss can come over and ask."
Yuxi hurriedly shook her head and said, "I don't mind, I don't mind…."
This stupid look made Han Jianming unable to bear to look at her directly, as he rushed for Yuxi to leave, "It's almost noon, you should go back." Even he didn't know how she had become like this. Smart for a while, then became a bit foolish for another time.
Yuxi happily returned to Taoran House and ate less than half a bowl for lunch. Zisu smiled and asked, "Miss, what makes you look so happy?" [+]
Yuxi smiled, "Dage promised me that if they are anything I don't understand while reading my book, I can go and ask him." The events of the past few days had made Yuxi aware of her one problem. She looked at things too narrowly, not as long term and comprehensive as Dage and Mr Zhao.
When Kufu heard this, she pursed her lips for a bit and then said, "I thought Master Shizi had rewarded Miss with some rare treasure?"
Yuxi muttered in her heart that rare treasures might become someone else's at any moment, but what she learnt would always belong only to her.
After lunch, Yuxi was strolling in the yard to help with her digestion. At this moment, Ah Ling, Ye Shi's maid, came over and said that Ye Shi wanted to invite Yuxi to Songxiang Courtyard.
As Yuxi gazed at the sun outside that could dry people up, she asked, "You want me to go now?" Since that night, when old woman Hua demanded Zijin take the risk of getting Ye Shi's anti-abortion medicine, Yuxi had never gone to Songxiang Courtyard. Even when Yuxi saw Ye Shi in the Master Courtyard, her attitude in treating Ye Shi also had been restored to what it was before, where she would be more polite than being intimate with Ye Shi.
Ah Ling bowed her head and responded, "No, Da Nainai said to only invite Miss to go over when Miss has free time." If she let Fourth Miss go there under such a hot sun, the First Lady would be unhappy if she knew.
Yuxi asked again, "Did Dasao say that it was something important?"
When Yuxi saw Ah Ling shake her head, she stated, "I'll go there when the sun goes down." The sun was already this hot, and it was nothing urgent, so she definitely wouldn't go now!
Yuxi felt a bit strange. Thus she asked Zisu, who just walked in, "What's going on over at Songxiang Courtyard?" She hadn't heard any problems coming from Songxiang Courtyard lately!
Zisu put down the fruit bowl of pomegranates. Then she shook her head and said, "The breeze is still, and waves are quiet over there at Songxiang Courtyard. But I've heard that Master Shizi hasn't gone there for a little over half a month."
Yuxi walked to the shelf, washed her hands, picked up half of the pomegranate, broke off a few and put them in her mouth. After eating it, she nodded her head and praised, "This pomegranate tastes good. Was it from Eldest Aunt?"
Zisu shook her head and said, "No, it was sent by Third Miss."
Yuxi nodded slightly and asked, "Dage should rarely go to the Songxiang Courtyard this time, right?" From that previous conversation, she could sense that Dage was very angry at Ye family for hiding the fact that it was very difficult for Ye Shi to conceive another child.
Zisu also felt that it was bizarre, "Miss, at the early stage of Da Nainai's pregnancy, Master Shizi was still very happy, and even if he didn't stay in Master Courtyard, he would still visit her every day."
Yuxi said, "Dage has been so busy with many things lately. Hence he can't attend to backyard matters." Heshou had a mother who was a Gongzhu. Thus, she had royal blood in her veins, which was her greatest protection. If the Duke of the State Residence used schemes against them, the consequences would be severe once the Emperor and their clan people knew about it. This was also the reason why Han Jianming was late in making his move.
Zisu, however, spoke with Yuxi about a gossip, "Miss, everyone in residence is saying that it was because the Imperial Physician said that Da Nainai's unborn child would be a girl. That was why Master Shizi didn't go to Songxiang Courtyard anymore."
Yuxi glared at Zisu, "What's nonsense? The child has not been born yet, so the child must be a girl just because the Imperial Physician and the midwife said that the unborn child would be a girl? Nonsense." Deep in her heart, she acknowledged their talks. Dage knew that it was very difficult for Ye Shi's body to have a second child, and if this unborn child were a girl, it would mean that Dage would have no legitimate son. The significance of a legitimate son for a family like them was out of the ordinary. Hence Dage was currently venting his anger on Ye Shi.
Zisu didn't stop the topic just because of Yuxi's cold eyes. Still, she continued instead, "I heard that Da Nainai originally wanted to save her reputation by giving one of her personal maids to Master Shizi, but Master Shizi refused."
This talk didn't taste right anymore, and Yuxi kept a straight face as she said, "What are you trying to say? If others knew this, they would think that I cared about what happened in my brother's room." She thought this was only gossip at first, but now she didn't think that was what it was all about.
Zisu said all these to Yuxi with a purpose, "Miss was in Master Shizi's study for the whole morning. So I think Da Nainai wants to make use of Miss to inquire about Master Shizi." Master Shizi's study, not to mention Da Nainai, even the First Lady couldn't go in and out at will. But Miss could talk with Master Shizi all morning in the study. Thus Da Nainai surely had this idea.
Yuxi smiled and said, "If that's the case, then I'll have to disappoint my Dasao." It wasn't like she was full of nothing to do and too idle that she wanted to get involved with matters between them, husband and wife. Furthermore, it wasn't as simple as just a quarrel. It was a matter of heavenly importance when it came to an heir.
Upon seeing this reaction from her Miss, Zisu breathed out a sigh of relief as she said, "That's good. I'm afraid that when Da Nainai begs Miss, Miss' heart will soften, and Miss decides to intervene in this matter." She didn't know what happened in the Master Courtyard that day. She thought that Yuxi was too busy to go to Songxiang Courtyard recently, while not at all realising that Yuxi had a grudge against Ye Shi.
Yuxi chuckled, "Am I that muddled? Set your mind at ease. I will never get involved in such a thing."
Noob Translator's Musing
To those who have given this novel good reviews at novelupdates,
I know this novel is longgggggg, so please bear with me.
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi