Li Weiyang looked at Nalan Xue and said softly, “Miss Nalan, our meeting in Qingzhou is already a kind of fate. I wonder if you could spare a moment to speak with me in detail?”

Nalan Xue stared fixedly at Li Weiyang. Under the moonlight, this young woman’s face was pure and refined, her eyes like ancient wells glittered with radiance, and her face showed not the slightest pretense—only a calm expression. Nalan Xue had just experienced great peril. When Pei Hui’s long sword rested against her neck, she thought her life would end there. Yet she never imagined that in the blink of an eye, Li Weiyang would rescue her. Combined with the favorable impression she had formed of Li Weiyang in Qingzhou, seeing her sincere and earnest now, Nalan Xue hesitated briefly before nodding.

Li Weiyang smiled, “Then let’s talk in the carriage.”

Nalan Xue boarded the carriage and found its interior resembled an elegant study, decorated quite exquisitely. Zhao Yue poured tea and quietly withdrew to the side. Nalan Xue looked at Li Weiyang and said, “Miss Guo, if you have any questions, please ask directly.”

Li Weiyang hadn’t expected her to be so frank and smiled slightly, “Miss Nalan came to the capital to find someone, specifically someone from the Guo family, correct?”

Nalan Xue froze. She hadn’t expected Li Weiyang to detect the truth so quickly, so she said softly, “That’s right, I came to find someone—your second brother, Guo Yan.”

A trace of understanding appeared on Li Weiyang’s face. She should have guessed. With a faint sigh, she said, “You traveled a thousand miles to reach the capital for my second brother, but you never imagined that upon arrival, you’d immediately see that he had already married a wife, isn’t that so?”

Nalan Xue didn’t speak, but her expression grew somber in that instant, her snow-white face devoid of any color. Li Weiyang could understand her feelings, but what puzzled her was why Nalan Xue didn’t clarify matters before leaving. She asked, “Don’t you want to see my second brother and ask him why he betrayed you?”

Nalan Xue laughed coldly, “The outcome is already before my eyes. Would asking change anything? Or do you want me to learn from that Ye Furong and dash myself to death at your Guo family’s gate, staining the ground with blood and sullying your family’s reputation? I’m not that kind of woman. I can’t do such drastic things. I just want to leave and never see anyone from the Guo family again.”

Hearing her words, Li Weiyang sighed softly, “If you had no doubts in your heart, why have you been wandering around the city? When a person harbors confusion, she’ll never find peace wherever she goes for the rest of her life. Miss Nalan, my second brother married Chen Shi for a family alliance, not by his own choice.”

Nalan Xue smiled faintly, but her smile carried ten parts desolation.

Li Weiyang had seen such an expression before. Many, many years ago, when she looked at herself in a bronze mirror or in a pond, she could see such a heartbroken appearance. Only back then, she was a deposed empress imprisoned in the Cold Palace, not a privileged daughter of a distinguished family as she was now. The Nalan Xue before her always reminded her of herself from those times. Thinking of this, her voice softened three parts, “Miss Nalan, why do you smile?”

Nalan Xue said indifferently, “Miss Guo, you’re a clever person. Not only are you clever, but the Guo family people are also formidable. Guo Yan once promised me he would marry no one but me in this life, yet he turned around and married another for family interests. I waited bitterly for two years without any news. Unable to bear it, I searched my way here, only to discover that Guo Yan had already been appointed Auxiliary State General and was on duty, not in the capital. I sought out the Guo family, originally intending to stay there and wait for him, but before I could explain my circumstances, I saw his wife. What could I possibly say? Whatever I say seems wrong now.”

Li Weiyang looked at her and murmured, “So you plan to just leave like this?”

At this moment, Nalan Xue’s tears flowed down like strings of pearls. She turned her head away and quickly wiped her tears before turning back, “Since you have no heart for me, I shall rest. There’s nothing else to do.” Nalan Xue’s chest ached as if being torn apart, such pain that she could barely sit steady, her entire being drifting, not knowing where she was.

Li Weiyang said, “If you want to return home, I’ll find a way to send people to escort you back.”

Nalan Xue shook her head gently, “I no longer have a home.”

Li Weiyang looked at her and couldn’t help asking, “Then do you have any relatives you can rely on?”

Nalan Xue shook her head again, “I’m alone in this world now.” As she said this, a flash of grief quickly passed through her beautiful eyes, but she lowered her head in time, not letting Li Weiyang see.

Seeing her expression filled with unbearable sorrow, Li Weiyang sighed, “Since Miss Nalan has nowhere to go, why not stay in the capital? I can give you a medical clinic so you can practice medicine and heal people, fulfilling your life’s wish.”

Nalan Xue looked at Li Weiyang, surprise on her face, her tone even more shocked, “Why would you do this?”

Li Weiyang’s smile was warm, her expression cool, “The Pei family won’t easily let you go. As soon as you leave the capital today, you’ll become a corpse tomorrow. You were once my second brother’s beloved, and he wronged you. Speaking of which, the Guo family wronged you first. That being so, what’s wrong with me making some compensation for them? Just consider that we feel guilty and accept it with peace of mind.”

Nalan Xue simply smiled faintly, “Miss Guo, you truly know where a person’s weakness lies. All my life I’ve wandered everywhere, with no one to depend on, no one to rely on, not even a home to return to. My only wish is to treat some patients and save more common people. Though we’ve only met once, you know what’s in my heart. You’re truly a clever person.”

Li Weiyang looked at her, a trace of amusement in her eyes, “Whether you think me frightening or deeply calculating, I don’t care. To tell you the truth, if you leave here, firstly the Pei family won’t let you go, and secondly they’ll very likely use you against the Guo family. Though my second brother wronged you, he was also forced into it. I cannot allow anyone to threaten the Guo family, so I can only keep you under my watchful eye. Miss Nalan, if one day I eliminate my enemies, I’ll naturally reward you with a thousand gold pieces and send you away safely. If I cannot defeat my opponents, I’ll still protect your safety at the final moment. Can you trust me?”

Nalan Xue’s body trembled as she looked at Li Weiyang, not knowing what to say.

Seeing three parts hesitation in her expression, Li Weiyang continued, “After all, you are my life-saving benefactor. Using a medical clinic to repay you is nothing remarkable. You can accept it with ease and treat more patients. Just consider it me doing good deeds and accumulating virtue.” As she spoke, she already took out a land deed and property deed from her sleeve, placed them on the table, and pushed them before Nalan Xue. She said slowly, “This is the largest medical clinic in the capital. From now on, you are the owner of this Jishan Hall. No matter how much medicinal material you need or how many patients you treat for free, the Guo family will support you unconditionally.” In fact, Lady Guo didn’t know about this matter. The one who wanted to do this was only Li Weiyang.

Nalan Xue looked at Li Weiyang and finally smiled slightly, “Is Miss Guo doing this to completely sever the feelings between Guo Yan and me?”

Li Weiyang shook her head, “I’m a selfish person with no way to consider so much. I don’t care about your feelings for each other. I only care whether this matter will threaten the Guo family and whether it will harm my mother. As for you, you can only choose to accept or refuse.”

Nalan Xue raised her eyebrows, “What if I refuse?”

Li Weiyang sighed, “If you don’t agree, then I’ll act as if I never saw you. You can leave on your own now, but if the Pei family uses you to threaten my Guo family again, I won’t show mercy, nor will I intervene to save you.”

Nalan Xue gently closed her eyes. After a moment, she suddenly opened them again, then abruptly put down her bundle, took out a piece of paper from it, placed it on the table, and said slowly, “I won’t accept your gift for nothing. This piece of paper is my repayment to you. From now on, I don’t owe your Guo family, and you don’t owe me. Let’s part ways here!” With that, she really did pick up the land deed and property deed from the table, turned around, and got off the carriage.

Li Weiyang instructed Zhao Yue, “Go ask Fifth Brother to personally escort her into the city and have the Guo family guards secretly protect her.”

Zhao Yue nodded and left in response.

Just then, Guo Cheng boarded the carriage. He looked at Li Weiyang, his gaze revealing a trace of depth, “Are you really not going to tell Mother about this?”

Li Weiyang shook her head, “We can’t let Mother know. If she knows, Second Sister-in-law will know too.”

Guo Cheng sighed, “But I always feel this matter can’t be hidden forever. One day it will reach Second Sister-in-law’s ears.”

Li Weiyang said, “There are no walls without cracks in this world. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. We might as well prepare early.”

Guo Cheng suddenly raised his bright black eyes, looking at Li Weiyang, “Or we could tell them openly.” Li Weiyang shook her head, then picked up the folded paper that Nalan Xue had handed over from the table and passed it to Guo Cheng.

Guo Cheng took it, and looking at it by candlelight, he was completely stunned. After a long while, he finally spoke, “I never imagined they actually had a marriage contract back then.”

Li Weiyang nodded, looking at the gold-embossed characters on the paper, “Since Second Brother made a love pledge with her, and he’s someone who keeps his promises, he would definitely leave evidence. This marriage contract—if Nalan Xue persisted in filing a lawsuit, the Guo family would become the laughingstock of the entire city. More seriously, abandoning one’s wife to remarry—what kind of reputation is that? Second Brother’s position as Auxiliary State General would be finished, and it would ruin the Guo family’s century-old reputation.”

Li Weiyang didn’t want to be so aggressive either, but in Yuexi Dynasty, with this marriage contract, Nalan Xue was equivalent to Guo Yan’s fiancée. Yet Guo Yan abandoned his promise and married another—this was completely different from that top scholar abandoning the courtesan. Though the scholar and Ye Furong had a marriage pledge, after all, there was no proof, and besides, nobility and lowliness were different—he could never accept a courtesan. In fact, if he hadn’t coveted wealth and married that high official’s daughter, he could have taken Ye Furong as a concubine, and no one would have said anything. But he deliberately rejected her and ignored her cruelly to marry his new wife, which created his reputation for heartlessness. But for Guo Yan, having an already betrothed wife yet abandoning her—how was this different from abandoning one’s wife to remarry? For noble families, this was truly disgraceful behavior.

Guo Cheng looked at the marriage contract, waves of coldness passing through his heart, “If Nalan Xue had just fallen into the Pei family’s hands, I’m afraid…” His words trailed off, but he suddenly raised the marriage contract and set it aflame over the candle, watching the fire curl up the gold characters bit by bit until they finally turned to ashes.

Li Weiyang watched silently, her expression changing unpredictably. Then she heard Guo Cheng sigh, “Though you stated your purpose so pragmatically, I still feel you sincerely wanted to help this young lady.”

Li Weiyang looked at Guo Cheng with a half-smile, “Oh, how can you tell?”

Guo Cheng smiled slightly, “If you were truly ruthless and heartless, you could have simply killed her to silence her just now—quietly, without anyone suspecting the Guo family, and the Pei family would have no way to use Nalan Xue’s matter to threaten us. But you didn’t. You even gave her a medical hall and sent people to protect her.”

Li Weiyang wore a faint smile, sneering, “That’s merely surveillance!”

Guo Cheng shook his head, “No, it’s not surveillance—it’s protection! I’m certain of it!”

As he said this, Li Weiyang smiled lightly, her expression relaxed, and said slowly, “Protection or surveillance, I just don’t want Mother to suffer the slightest harm because of this matter.”

Guo Cheng sighed softly, “This matter has finally been temporarily settled. Second Sister-in-law doesn’t know, which has avoided a great upheaval.”

Li Weiyang’s eyes flashed with cold light, her smile containing three parts coldness, “It’s not just a simple matter of great upheaval. I’m afraid it would implicate the alliance between the Guo and Chen families.”

Guo Cheng’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at Li Weiyang. But Li Weiyang had already lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking, her gaze fixed on the marriage contract that had been burned to ashes.

At the Pei residence, the night was cool as water, the moonlight carrying a faint chill. In the garden was a lake of clear blue water—stagnant water, meant to gather wealth. In the lake, the water glimmered, with koi fish swimming here and there. A breeze passed, rippling the lake’s surface slightly. Pei Bi calmly pushed open the study door and walked in. Behind him followed Pei Hui, step by step, appearing quite uneasy, completely unlike his usual composure.

As soon as Pei Hui entered, he said urgently, “Elder Brother, about today’s matter?”

Pei Bi glanced at him and asked with concern, “Are your wounds properly bandaged? Are they serious? Didn’t I tell you that no matter what happens, you must protect yourself first? Why didn’t you bring more people? You were really too careless.”

Pei Hui lowered his head without speaking. Before his elder brother, he seemed like a child who had done something wrong, showing an expression of helplessness. In fact, since childhood, their father had never shown him much care. From his earliest memories, the person who cared most for him and loved him most was Pei Bi. But strangely, Pei Bi wasn’t particularly fond of his other siblings—only him, as if pouring all his affection into him. So over all these years, the person he respected most was his elder brother.

Pei Bi sighed, “Usually you’re so clever and strategic. How could you do something so foolish today?”

Pei Hui’s heart trembled violently. What should he say? He couldn’t say a single word. He didn’t know how he could have been so impulsive. In fact, as soon as he discovered Nalan Xue, he should have realized this was very likely a trap. Yet he rashly fell into it, not even thinking it through. Looking back now, this was all Li Weiyang’s scheme!

He was filled with regret to the extreme. Actually kneeling on both knees before Pei Bi, he said, “Elder Brother, it’s all my fault! If not for me, three younger brothers wouldn’t have all perished, and younger sister wouldn’t have suffered such humiliation. Father already punished me with the rod, but I still cannot find peace in my heart. Watching Li Weiyang so triumphant while I’m helpless—today I nearly lost my own life to her hands. If not for Elder Brother’s timely rescue…” As he spoke, his hand in his sleeve clenched into a fist, his eyes filled with hatred for Li Weiyang. But strangely, facing Pei Hui’s burning rage, Pei Bi’s expression was unexpectedly peaceful and gentle, even carrying a casual attitude.

Pei Hui continued, “Please teach me, Elder Brother, how to take revenge!”

Pei Bi sighed, “I’ve already heard about what happened to you all on the grasslands. It’s not your fault. Stand up first.”

However, Pei Hui remained kneeling on the ground, unwilling to rise.

Pei Bi paused, then said, “Li Weiyang is deeply calculating and methodical. Every one of her schemes targets the Pei family. Though you excel at strategy, you don’t excel at adaptation, which is why you suffered such a crushing defeat—this is the first reason. Li Weiyang relies on the Guo family, first having Prince Xu Yuan Lie, then Prince Jing Yuan Ying’s assistance. She’s a heroine among women, not comparable to ordinary boudoir daughters. You brothers were truly too rash, resulting in complete defeat—this is the second reason. As for the third reason, these are all external factors. Li Weiyang’s intelligence is her greatest weapon. In her eyes, your lives and deaths are merely a game.”

Pei Hui looked at him in shock, considering his words, “Then according to Elder Brother’s view, how should we handle this matter? When can we take revenge on Li Weiyang?”

Pei Bi smiled faintly and shook his head, “How can we take revenge?” He seemed to be asking himself, yet also asking Pei Hui.

Pei Hui looked at him puzzledly, “Yes, I cannot do this alone—I can only rely on you, Elder Brother!”

Pei Bi smiled, that smile seemingly carrying three parts self-mockery, “My health has always been poor. I’ve long devoted myself to recuperative techniques, with no interest in power struggles. If you rely on me, I fear I’ll disappoint you.”

Hearing this, Pei Hui froze. Since childhood, Pei Bi’s health had never been good, and he often left the capital to recuperate. In these years, the household affairs had all been handed to him to handle, which is why he developed such a character of caring for all the other Pei family members. It was precisely because of his steady nature that everyone believed the Pei household would eventually be inherited by him, Pei Hui. But from childhood to adulthood, no matter what happened to him or what difficulties he encountered, in the end, the one who could resolve things for him wasn’t his always intimidating father, but this seemingly frail elder brother who smiled with such detachment. Now he had no other options—he could only seek help from him. He spoke up, “Elder Brother, though your health is poor, you are a strategist who commands from headquarters and achieves victory a thousand miles away. I believe you can deal with Li Weiyang.”

So what if he was intelligent and a master strategist? He was born with consumption, constantly coughing blood. Even though he married a wife, she was merely decoration—he couldn’t even be considered a normal man… In contrast, second brother Pei Hui was tall and handsome, skilled in both civil and martial arts with wide connections. He possessed everything Pei Bi himself dreamed of but could never obtain. He was the Pei family’s true hope. So for Pei Bi, every time he saw this second brother succeed, it was equivalent to seeing his own success. He had placed all his hopes on Pei Hui.

Hearing his second brother say this, Pei Bi didn’t speak. He quietly looked at his younger brother, then sighed, “Didn’t you see how dangerous it was just now? If Li Weiyang had known I hadn’t brought a single soldier, she definitely wouldn’t have let you and me leave safely.”

Pei Hui was immediately stunned. After a long while, he came to his senses, “You mean Elder Brother, you didn’t bring anyone to ambush us just now?”

Pei Bi smiled slightly, “I was merely returning to the capital from the hot springs villa. Where would I bring soldiers from? It was Li Weiyang who was overly suspicious, which is why she fell for the deception.”

Pei Hui laughed coldly, “She’s indeed very suspicious and very cautious. But this time, she never imagined you were singing an empty city stratagem.”

Pei Bi sighed, that expression seeming to flash with something, his face neither quite smiling nor frowning. He looked at his younger brother and said slowly, “Precisely because her thoughts run deep, because she’s decisive and cunning—such people are often the most suspicious. I merely used this weakness of hers to bluff her. Even if she knew I was lying, she would still let us leave. Everything depended on her single thought.”

Hearing this, Pei Hui couldn’t help looking at his elder brother in astonishment, “Why?”

Pei Bi smiled slightly, “Given the opportunity, she’d rather wrongly kill a thousand than let one escape. When threatened, she’d rather retreat a hundred steps than advance half a step. This is Li Weiyang’s personality. From the letters you sent me, this woman’s greatest flaw is suspicion. When planning strategies, this trait allows her to be thorough in all aspects, but when it comes to making decisions, she can’t help being indecisive and thinking too much. Moreover, you should be grateful to the Guo family.”

Pei Hui’s pupils suddenly contracted. He completely didn’t understand what the other was saying and couldn’t help taking a deep breath, “Be grateful to them?! They killed three of my brothers and caused me such humiliation! And you want me to be grateful to them! Elder Brother, have you gone mad?!”

Pei Bi’s smile was warm, his voice gentle, “From one perspective, the Guo family is Li Weiyang’s backing. But if you think from another angle, they’re also her weakness, aren’t they? Without the Guo family, she’s like a black stone on a riverbank—though worthless, she can make you bloodied and broken. Now she’s no longer the orphan girl of the past, but genuine fine jade. While having wings makes her stronger, she also fears enemies might damage her and becomes timid. So many things must be viewed from both sides.” His words were incisive, and in casual conversation, he had already analyzed Li Weiyang extremely thoroughly.

Pei Hui stared at his elder brother in a daze, never imagining that based merely on the fragments he had sent, the other could see through Li Weiyang inside and out. He couldn’t help smiling, “Elder Brother, no wonder Aunt always says your intelligence borders on supernatural.” When Empress Dowager Pei met Pei Bi once, she made such an assessment, but at the time they didn’t believe it, thinking their aunt was merely joking, because everyone knew the Pei family’s most outstanding son was the civil-and-military Pei Hui.

Pei Bi looked at Pei Hui, his smile indifferent. Empress Dowager Pei did say this, but there was a second sentence—she said, your intelligence borders on supernatural, but unfortunately, you’re destined never to be a hero in this lifetime. Indeed, the Pei family had reached this generation needing an outstanding figure to raise the entire family’s banner. Originally the best candidate was Pei Bi, but unfortunately, a hero could be blind, could be deaf, but absolutely could not be an infertile cripple, much less a man destined to die before thirty.

Seeing his elder brother not speaking, Pei Hui said loudly, “With the Guo and Chen families’ momentum growing, pressing in aggressively! Elder Brother, if we want the Pei family to have long-lasting peace and security, we must find a way to eliminate the Guo family and that Li Weiyang!” He kept repeating the same words.

Pei Bi looked at Pei Hui. The candlelight danced in his pupils, his eyes glimmering like fire, yet he said, “Second Brother, your vision is too shortsighted. To eliminate Li Weiyang is actually not difficult. As long as you grasp her weakness, she’s merely a puppet on strings, allowing you to manipulate her at will. But you shouldn’t be so impatient, letting the opponent see through your flaws. In my view, you should stay in the residence recently and not go out.”

Pei Hui gritted his teeth, “Are you telling me to endure again? I went to the palace, and Aunt said the same thing to me. But enduring and enduring—exactly how long must I endure?!”

Pei Bi’s expression grew profound. His voice was soft yet strong and forceful, “Leave everything to me. When the time comes for revenge, I’ll naturally let you kill Li Weiyang with your own hands.”

Pei Hui looked deeply at his elder brother, his gaze revealing deeper doubt. He didn’t know where his elder brother’s confidence came from to say such words. Even Empress Dowager Pei hadn’t made such a guarantee to him. At this moment, Pei Bi had already stood up. He opened the window beside him and gazed into the distance, not knowing what he was looking at. In the candlelight, Pei Bi’s shadow appeared very lonely, stretching long in the darkness—solitary yet cold.

Early the next morning, Li Weiyang came to the study. She saw her younger brother Li Minzhi lying prone on the desk, his small body gripping a long brush, stroke by stroke writing something on rice paper. She walked behind him to look and discovered the child was merely doodling, but… she glanced once and proactively asked Minzhi, “Minzhi, tell Sister what you’re drawing?”

Minzhi smiled and pointed at Li Weiyang, appearing very happy.

Li Weiyang looked at him and couldn’t help smiling, “Are you drawing me? Let me see.” As she spoke, she pretended to pick up the rice paper and examined it carefully, nodding in approval, “It really does look like me.” Minzhi smiled even more happily, waving his brush around and getting ink splattered all over his little face. Li Weiyang picked him up and gently pinched his face, her fingertips filled with soft sensation. Her voice couldn’t help becoming tender as she smiled by his ear, “Minzhi, will Sister keep you company and play with you, all right?”

Li Minzhi puffed up his cheeks and nodded excitedly. Those big eyes held a watery gleam as he looked at Li Weiyang, his voice soft, “Sister play with me.” At the same time, as if finding warmth in her embrace, he pressed tightly against her body. Li Weiyang gently stroked his delicate back and smiled, “When you’re a bit older, Sister will personally teach you to paint.”

Just then, laughter came from outside the door. Li Weiyang looked toward the doorway and saw Prince Jing in splendid attire, smiling as he walked in. Yuan Ying smiled and said, “If the young master wants to learn painting, I naturally have famous teachers to recommend.”

Li Weiyang looked at him, her expression merely indifferent, “Thank you, Prince Jing. When there’s a need, I’ll naturally inform you.” This was clearly a polite refusal without revealing emotion.

Yuan Ying’s gaze rested on Li Weiyang’s face, a trace of amusement appearing, “It’s been a long time. Is Jia’er well?” Since returning from the grasslands, Yuan Ying hadn’t stepped foot in the Guo household for a full month. Li Weiyang pretended not to know and merely smiled as before, “Jia’er is very well. Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.”

Yuan Ying’s smile was very calm. He said lightly, “Why didn’t you go when Mother Consort summoned you to the palace?”

Li Weiyang didn’t take it seriously. Her long lashes lowered as she said, “Since returning from the grasslands, Mother’s health has been poor. I’ve been at home accompanying her and rarely go out. This matter was already reported to Consort Hui.” This statement already explained her reason for being unwilling to enter the palace.

Yuan Ying gazed at her quietly, his black eyes revealing no trace of joy or anger, only carrying some inquiry and some contemplation. Li Weiyang was unwilling to meet his gaze and instead slowly turned her head, touching Minzhi’s head. Minzhi looked at these two people uncomprehendingly, his eyes showing some surprise.

Prince Jing Yuan Ying smiled and walked over. Then he took out a rattle drum from his bosom. The drum hammers hanging from the rattle drum were made of pure gold, extremely exquisite, with countless beautiful patterns carved on the drum body—it immediately attracted Minzhi’s attention. Yuan Ying tapped the rattle drum, then handed the small drum to Minzhi’s chubby hand. Minzhi wouldn’t accept it and only looked at Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang nodded gently, and only then did Minzhi joyfully embrace the rattle drum, his big eyes curiously examining it. His chubby little hand shook it, listening to the sound, then broke into a smile. Yuan Ying then said, “As long as the young master likes it.”

Li Weiyang glanced at him and said, “Thank you.”

Yuan Ying also smiled bitterly. He always felt Li Weiyang’s attitude toward him was very cold. Although he had tried every method to approach her, there was never the slightest improvement. In fact, in Yuan Ying’s view, he wasn’t inferior to Prince Xu Yuan Lie in any way, but for some reason, Li Weiyang never seemed to have any intention of comparing them on equal terms—she didn’t even give him a single opportunity to compete. This made Prince Jing feel very frustrated.

He couldn’t help speaking up, “I’m looking for you because I have some questions I want to clarify.”

Li Weiyang glanced at him, a trace of understanding flashing across her face, “Is Prince Jing asking about the matter of executing the Pei brothers that day?”

Yuan Ying nodded, “Yes, I’ve always wanted to ask but never dared. I really want to know—why would you rather tell Prince Xu Yuan Lie and let him participate in this matter, yet not let me know?”

Li Weiyang sighed, “I didn’t let you know for your own good, Prince Jing.”

Yuan Ying furrowed his brow, the smile on his handsome face slightly fading, and said in a low voice, “Oh, for my own good? What do you mean by that?”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly, “You must know this matter might not succeed. Once something went wrong, the Guo family would be the first to take blame. If Prince Jing didn’t know, you could still make excuses. But if you also knew, wouldn’t you suffer together with the Guo family? That being so, it’s better not to know. In any case, the result of this matter only benefits Prince Jing without harming you, isn’t that right?”

Yuan Ying looked at her, his smile slowly becoming more pleasant, but in fact, only he himself knew that Li Weiyang’s words sounded nice, but the truth was she simply didn’t consider him one of her own. He paused briefly, then said quietly, “Then weren’t you afraid of implicating Prince Xu Yuan Lie?”

Minzhi grew somewhat impatient. He squirmed in Li Weiyang’s arms. Li Weiyang called over Zhao Yue and passed Minzhi to her, then said, “Take him outside to play.” Zhao Yue glanced at Yuan Ying. Li Weiyang shook her head at her, indicating it was fine.

After Zhao Yue left with Minzhi, Li Weiyang turned back to look at the other party, “Prince Jing, I had Yuan Lie participate naturally because there was a certain necessity. How I choose to act doesn’t actually require explanation to you. It’s only because of our cooperative relationship that I’ve said so much to you. You only need to know the result benefits you—isn’t that enough? Why must you press aggressively with questions?”

Yuan Ying ignored his violently beating heart and said quickly, “So you finally admit it? You call him Yuan Lie, yet you call me Prince Jing. The intimacy and distance between us is already very clear.”

Li Weiyang frowned slightly, then stepped back, but heard Yuan Ying laugh coldly. He suddenly extended his right hand, wrapping it around her waist, pulling her forward toward him, and said coldly by her ear, “Do you really detest me this much?”

Li Weiyang looked directly at his already angry eyes and said slowly, “Prince Jing, please mind your status!”

Prince Jing gazed at the face before him, refined as white jade, those jet-black eyes reflecting coldness and rejection. His handsome features showed even greater anger as he couldn’t help smiling and saying, “So you really do like Yuan Lie. What’s so good about him? Is it just because his face is more handsome than mine?”

Li Weiyang laughed coldly, then in the blink of an eye broke free from Yuan Ying’s restraint. She looked at his angry expression, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, “Does Guo Jia, a mere woman, hold more importance in Your Highness’s heart than your imperial throne?”

Prince Jing froze, then looked at her, his gaze turning cold, “What do you mean by this?”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, “Currently the Crown Prince’s claws are sharp, his wings full, with the Pei family supporting him with one hand. Prince Qin moreover holds great power with vast ambitions. All the princes appear to be brothers on the surface, but behind the scenes they stab each other in the back, making one’s heart and courage shatter. Now Prince Jing has already become the target of all arrows. In this situation, you need the Guo family’s support and even more need Yuan Lie to stand on your side. You may have some affection for me, but you haven’t reached the point where you’d give up the struggle for the throne for my sake, have you? If you’re willing to step back, I’ll naturally persuade Yuan Lie to support you. Isn’t this a matter where everyone is happy?”

Prince Jing laughed coldly, “Everyone happy? What originally belonged to me becomes someone else’s—what happiness do I have to speak of? Guo Jia, let me tell you plainly—we originally had a marriage agreement, yet you’d rather follow Prince Xu Yuan Lie and become an idle princess. What calculations are you making? Do you really like him so much that you’re willing to disregard everything?”

Li Weiyang smiled gently, “Prince Jing misunderstands. In my heart, feelings have never been the most important thing. I’m saying this entirely for your benefit. If not, you should think this matter through carefully—whether getting me and completely breaking with Yuan Lie is worth it.”

Prince Jing looked at her, his eyes showing a neither-smile-nor-frown expression, “If I agree to step back, what can you give me? Will you help me strategize?”

Li Weiyang smiled gently, then spread out rice paper and began writing on it. Prince Jing watched her, not knowing what she intended to do, so he simply watched quietly. But the more he watched, the more solemn his expression became.

Li Weiyang wrote methodically, the study filled with ink fragrance, the air perfumed. After finishing, the rice paper was densely covered with forty to fifty officials’ names and current positions. She wrote very quickly, almost in one breath without any pause—clearly she had memorized these people’s names thoroughly.

Yuan Ying hadn’t expected Li Weiyang would actually know these people. Over these years, he had contact with them, and many were targets he planned to win over.

At this moment, Li Weiyang put down her brush, pondered for another moment, circled and marked these people’s names, added a few more names, crossed out several people, then handed it to him, saying, “On this list, those I’ve drawn horizontal lines under, Your Highness can recruit. Those crossed out are the Crown Prince’s trusted aides—Your Highness shouldn’t waste effort on them anymore. Then there are those with dots under their names—they’re all ministers who appear neutral on the surface and are also targets both the Crown Prince and Your Highness are striving to win over, but they are loyal subjects and orphaned ministers that His Majesty left for the next generation’s ruler. In my view, Your Highness shouldn’t get too close to them, otherwise you’ll make His Majesty think you intend to compete for the imperial throne and are already stirring restlessly.”

Yuan Ying’s expression changed slightly, then he spoke up, “Why do you know all this? Have you been watching me all along?”

Li Weiyang smiled, “In the court, counting back and forth, there are only so many useful people. This isn’t difficult. Moreover, if I didn’t understand court affairs, how could I strategize for Prince Jing?”

Prince Jing looked at the list and pointed at one person’s name, “Your understanding of court affairs still isn’t complete. This Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Master Yang Jun—he’ll soon be joining my camp.”

Li Weiyang looked at Yang Jun’s name but smiled slightly, “Does Your Highness know that this Yang Jun was the top scholar thirteen years ago? He should have had a bright future ahead, receiving His Majesty’s important assignment, yet for some reason, merely because he said something in jest, he angered His Majesty, who demoted him three thousand miles away. He trained for a full thirteen years before being allowed to return to the capital. Doesn’t Your Highness find this matter strange?”

Prince Jing laughed coldly, “When he was young, he didn’t understand proper behavior and spoke arrogantly, angering my Imperial Father, so naturally he was demoted and stripped of rank. What’s strange about that!”

Li Weiyang shook her head, “I think that’s not necessarily the case. This Master Yang Jun is clever and decisive, steady in his conduct. If he didn’t know what should and shouldn’t be said, how could he stand out among tens of thousands of talented scholars with just one examination paper? The reason he became top scholar wasn’t because he was talented—it was because he understood the imperial will. And the reason His Majesty demoted him three thousand miles wasn’t because he made a mistake—it was to keep him free from recruitment by the Pei and Guo families. His Majesty cultivated him hoping he would become a generation of orphaned ministers, and also to protect him! Can’t Your Highness see this?”

Yuan Ying looked at Li Weiyang in shock—he had actually overlooked this point! Only because Imperial Father had been overly harsh toward Yang Jun did it cause him to momentarily overlook it and develop thoughts of winning him over. But now, with Li Weiyang’s clarification, he suddenly understood. Though Yang Jun was demoted three thousand miles, over these thirteen years he served as administrator of fourteen different provinces and commanderies, did countless beneficial things for the common people, and his official reputation was very upright. Only then was he promoted to the capital, but still wasn’t given important assignments—he was merely granted the position of minor Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. Looking at it now, Imperial Father intended to reserve him for great use, but when would that great use come? Of course when the next Son of Heaven ascended the throne… Now if he got too close to Yang Jun, it would only let the Emperor see through his intentions. At that time, he probably wouldn’t even need to fight with the Crown Prince before he’d fall first.

Yuan Ying’s heart turned cold. He couldn’t help pointing at another person, “Then what about this Meng Wei? He’s always been cold toward me. Why do you say I can win him over?”

Li Weiyang smiled gently, “This principle is actually very simple. Your Highness is within the situation, so you temporarily cannot understand. This Meng Wei serves as Vice Minister in the Ministry of War, with the Crown Prince’s trusted aide Minister Jiang above him—there’s no way he can be promoted. Even if he pledged loyalty to the Crown Prince, what use would it be? How many years would it take to achieve the position of Minister of War, let alone advance further! Ten years ago, Meng Wei had an ambitious poem declaring his intention to become the world’s greatest Prime Minister. How could such a person be willing to remain beneath Minister Jiang? Moreover, since Minister Jiang has pledged loyalty to the Crown Prince, Meng Wei definitely won’t follow his example. He’ll only think of finding another path. Currently, Prince Qin and Prince Jing—you—have the greatest power. He’ll definitely choose one of you. So now, he’s merely observing.”

Yuan Ying laughed coldly, “Then how do you know he’ll definitely pledge loyalty to me?”

Li Weiyang said indifferently, “Meng Wei is a clever person. He’s Vice Minister of War, and the Ministry of War controls military tallies. Zhou Zhen has command of a hundred thousand Capital Guards… If Meng Wei got close to Prince Qin, he’d probably lose even his Vice Minister position. Moreover, Prince Qin himself is a military general with fierce generals like clouds around him—there’s no need for him to curry favor. In contrast, if he secretly supported Prince Jing—you—it would instead be a good transaction.”

As Li Weiyang spoke, her smile was very slight, while Prince Jing Yuan Ying stared at her intently. Beyond the shock in his heart, he felt Li Weiyang was a rare treasure. He couldn’t help nodding, “Good, Jia’er truly understands the court situation.”

On Li Weiyang’s face, white as jade, her pupils grew increasingly black and unfathomably deep, her smile still warm and gentle. But this woman’s depth of scheming had already made Prince Jing Yuan Ying feel cold in his heart. He continued, “Then what should I do?”

Li Weiyang curved her lips, her eyes black as obsidian. “The Doctrine of the Mean exists everywhere. In the future, if Your Highness wishes to become Crown Prince and inherit the throne, you must understand this principle deeply. If you are too weak, you will lack authority and command no respect—you will be unable to inherit the throne or control the realm, and His Majesty will never want such an heir. But if you are too virtuous, with everyone rallying behind you and your political influence growing too great, you will threaten His Majesty’s position and put others on guard. Therefore, from now on, you cannot be unpopular, yet you also cannot be too popular. Everything depends on striking the proper balance. Prince Jing is so clever—you should know what to do.”

Prince Jing gazed at her for a long while, finally smiling slightly, “I’ll have to rely on you a great deal from now on.”

Li Weiyang’s expression was calm, her smile serene, “Why must Prince Jing say such things? The Guo family and Prince Jing already share glory and suffering together. As a member of the Guo household, I naturally should strategize for Prince Jing, helping you ascend to the great throne early so we can all share in wealth and honor.”

As Li Weiyang said this, the two suddenly smiled at each other with tacit understanding. But within their smiles, each harbored their own thoughts, mutually guarded against each other, each harboring hidden agendas…