Chapter 47: I Am in the Game
Eastern Palace.
Li Zhao picked up a chess piece, his slender fingers gently stroking the black stones. Before he could place it on the board, Guan Ya knocked and entered.
“Your Highness.”
He bowed respectfully, presenting a secret letter with both hands.
Li Zhao seemed not to hear, his gaze focused on the chess game. He unhurriedly placed a black stone at the center of the board, then looked up to receive the letter.
The envelope was sealed with wax, bearing a scout’s private mark, its design discreet.
Li Zhao seemed to sense something, his brow furrowing slightly before he tore it open and withdrew the letter. However, there wasn’t a single word on the paper. His expression grew even more solemn. He glanced at Eunuch Lai beside him, waiting for him to fetch the medicine water. He then immersed the paper in it, and after a moment, took it out…
The words appeared.
Everyone in the room held their breath.
After a long while, no one spoke, only the candlelight flickered occasionally.
Sitting opposite Li Zhao, engaged in a game of chess with him, was a middle-aged man in a blue robe with a two-inch beard.
He was Mei Ruhui, an official of the Eastern Palace and a guest of the Crown Prince.
The duty of a guest of the Crown Prince was to advise the Crown Prince, offering suggestions on etiquette, morality, and governance philosophy. Therefore, he was also Li Zhao’s trusted confidant and advisor.
Compared to other attendants, Mei Ruhui was more composed.
“Your Highness, what has happened?”
Li Zhao’s expression was cold and stern. He pushed the letter towards Mei Ruhui.
A perfectly flat sheet of paper, with only a few words, spoke of the matter concerning the Sixth Miss of the Xue Mansion…
“The Xue Mansion has quite a drama unfolding,” Mei Ruhui raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Miss Xue Liu is meticulous in her planning and a master strategist. Anyone who falls into her hands is unlikely to have a good outcome. That Yao Wei, in his arrogance, walked right into the trap without realizing it. In my humble opinion, even if he survives this, his end is likely near.”
Mei Ruhui sighed softly, a mixture of admiration for Xue Sui and a trace of apprehension.
“It’s a pity that Miss Xue Liu is to marry Prince Duan. After marriage, women often consider their husbands their world. If she were to align herself with Prince Duan, she would truly be a formidable opponent.”
Li Zhao’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a soft laugh.
He twirled a chess piece between his fingers, his thoughts drifting to Xue Sui’s words that day.
“When the game is at its most perilous, usefulness is paramount. Whether one is a chess piece or a player, why distinguish too clearly?”
One had to admit, Sixth Miss Xue’s reach was long.
But she was still far from being able to influence the Imperial Court…
Therefore, Li Huan, and even he himself, were merely tools in her schemes.
Mei Ruhui looked at the secret letter on the chessboard, fell silent for a moment, then asked with confusion, “With such capabilities, why didn’t this woman simply and cleanly end Yao Wei’s life? What use is he alive?”
The smile on Li Zhao’s face slowly faded. “To set a trap.”
Mei Ruhui asked, “What constitutes a trap?”
Li Zhao replied, “Human hearts are the trap, and worldly affairs are the board.”
After speaking, he turned and gestured for Eunuch Lai to bring paper and brush.
A sheet of white paper was spread on the chessboard. Li Zhao picked up his brush, his wrist suspended, his strokes like a dragon in flight.
A string of names slowly appeared before Mei Ruhui’s eyes.
Among them, Yao Wei’s name was connected to his father, Assistant Minister of the Interior Yao Hong, and Princess Ping Le, Li Yushu. Surrounding them were several court officials, and people with varying degrees of connection, forming an invisible net where a single move could affect the entire system…
Li Zhao heavily marked Li Yushu’s name, smudging the character for “Yu” with ink.
“Princess Ping Le has been seizing land and engaging in horse breeding, illegally occupying fertile fields, selling official positions, and oppressing the common people. We need to find an entry point…”
Mei Ruhui’s eyes darkened, his voice laced with surprise.
“What a grand game of chess. For a woman to possess such methods, let alone witness it firsthand, I’ve never even heard of it…”
Li Zhao looked up, gazing at him.
“You say, in this game, what role do I play?”
–
When the Second Master Yao had an accident, someone from the Yao Mansion came to fetch Xue Yue Lou to nurse him.
A wife’s duty is to her husband. Xue Yue Lou no longer had any reason to refuse to return to her maternal home.
Before leaving, she came to Li Xiang Courtyard to bid farewell to Xue Sui. Before she could speak, tears began to fall.
Xue Sui didn’t know how to comfort her for a moment.
For a fleeting moment, she saw her past self in Xue Yue Lou’s face – that small, helpless child, anxious about the future. Even though she had tried her best, survival had been so difficult…
“Sixth Sister, after I leave, you must take good care of yourself.”
Xue Yue Lou could only say this, choked with emotion.
“I will,” Xue Sui said, looking at the tears welling up in her eyes, and smiled gently. “Second Sister, you must believe me. Heaven’s will is clear, and retribution is inevitable. Just hold on a little longer, and you’ll soon see the light.”
Xue Yue Lou gave a bitter smile.
She took Xue Sui’s words as mere comfort and nodded tearfully.
For some reason, the phrase “believe me” suddenly gave her a surge of strength, like grasping a life-saving straw in the darkness, a source of support.
The journey back to the Yao Mansion no longer felt so arduous.
–
As night fell, the sky grew overcast.
By midnight, a few claps of thunder sounded, and the sound of rain began on the eaves.
The pattering sound accompanied her to sleep, the entire world becoming quiet and distant, utterly serene, the clamor of the mortal world shut out by the curtain of rain.
Xue Sui lay in bed, meticulously reviewing everything that had happened since her return to Shangjing. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly heard a clear flute melody.
Not too close, not too far, it drifted melodiously, just pleasant enough to hear.
She felt as if an electric current had struck her. She instinctively sat up, put on her clothes, and got out of bed, pushing open the window.
The entire Xue Mansion was immersed in the rainy night. The flute music had vanished, as if it were a hallucination…
Xiao Zhao pushed open the door and entered, “Miss…”
They exchanged a look. Xue Sui nodded to her, signaling her to light a lamp.
Li Xiang Courtyard was located at the northernmost part of the Xue Mansion, a secluded courtyard close to the wall, which provided Xue Sui with great convenience. Xiao Zhao waited below, and Xue Sui easily climbed over the wall, leaping down. She saw a figure standing in the alley.
In the misty alley, dim and hazy, the person was dressed in white, their face obscured by the rain and fog, as if an immortal descending with moonlight. They carried no weapon, only a Ling Qiong Flute hanging at their waist.
“Senior Brother!” Xue Sui called softly.
Their eyes met. Through the misty light of the fine rain, Xue Sui felt as if she were seeing a long-lost relative. Her eyes welled up, and she pursed her lips tightly to maintain her composure.
Tianshu remained silent.
After a long moment, he nodded at Xue Sui, his face devoid of any smile.
Senior Brother always had a stern face. Despite his handsome features, he was as serious as a little old man, not as gentle as the “Ling Qiong Flute” in his hand.
But Xue Sui was used to it, knowing he was a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart.
“Why are you looking for me at this hour? Is there something urgent?”
She then noticed his clothes were damp and frowned. “Why didn’t you bring an umbrella? If you catch a cold, you’ll get a headache again.”
Tianshu looked at her without a word, standing quietly for a moment.
“Senior Brother?” Xue Sui called him again.
Tianshu finally spoke, “Master has sent word, asking you to return home.”
Xue Sui was slightly startled. “When I left Old Mausoleum Swamp, I already told Master that the Imperial Envoy’s decree had been delivered… Why is Master suddenly summoning me?”
Tianshu said, “The Eastern Palace has its eyes on you, and their intentions are not good. Li Zhao is a man of deep schemes, and his actions are unpredictable…”
He paused, a hint of worry appearing on his face, his voice carrying the chill of the rainy night.
“Ping An, more terrifying than Prince Duan’s Mansion is the Eastern Palace.”
Xue Sui tugged at the corner of her mouth, smiling slightly. She felt surprisingly relaxed after hearing this.
How could she not know?
Those who deal with tigers are often harmed by them.
She had already prepared herself for this.
“If Senior Brother is here to persuade me, then you will be disappointed. You understand me. I’ve committed to this path, and this is the only aspiration I have in this life. Even if I reach a dead end, I will not turn back.”
Tianshu replied, “I am not here to persuade you; I am here to help you.”
Xue Sui was slightly taken aback.
Looking at Tianshu’s serious and upright face, her heart suddenly softened.
It had always been like this since she was young; whatever she did, Senior Brother would stand by her side.
A hint of joy flickered in her dark eyes. “Thank you, Senior Brother. Rest assured, I will ensure my own safety. When I need you, I will seek your assistance.”
The corner of Tianshu’s lips twitched, as if he wanted to smile, but he suppressed it.
He never smiled.
Xue Sui had never seen him smile.
His eyes seemed to hold countless worries, yet he never spoke of them.
However, in Old Mausoleum Swamp, everyone had a past. If he didn’t speak, Xue Sui wouldn’t ask.
Ultimately, they all had inner demons.
Xue Sui said, “People must do something with their lives, otherwise their hearts are empty. I like who I am now.”
Tianshu watched her quietly.
She, so close.
After a moment, he said, “For the next step, I await your news.”
Xue Sui curved her lips. “On the twenty-fourth of the second month, the Fourth Miss of the Xue Mansion will be married. Everything will proceed as planned, a joyous occasion for all.”
–
The twenty-fourth day of the second month in the thirteenth year of Chongzhao.
An auspicious day, suitable for weddings.
Despite the recent gloom and unpleasant events that had cast a shadow over the Xue Mansion, the wedding banquet was held with great dignity.
On either side of the vermilion main gate, new red couplets gleamed. Red lanterns hung high, like ripe red persimmons, strung one after another, stretching from the manor gate all the way to the inner courtyard.
Xue Yueying’s dowry was astonishing.
Boxes of silk and satin were piled high, sets of gold and silver ware, each piece worth a fortune, as well as rare antiques and calligraphy and paintings, exquisite boxes, and carved screens, all showcasing immense wealth.
Anyone who saw it would exclaim at the Xue Mansion’s grand display.
If the mansion weren’t large enough, it might not have been able to contain it all.
Xue Qingzhi and Fu Shi were both attending to guests, showing them great respect. The Old Madam was also in the main hall, conversing with the Madam and ladies present, the atmosphere filled with joy.
Ru Yi had gone to the front courtyard early in the morning to inspect the wedding banquet arrangements. Upon her return, she grumbled with dissatisfaction.
“It’s very grand! Fourth Miss will be smug again. Just thinking about her makes this maidservant upset.”
Having been by Xue Sui’s side for a long time, Ru Yi’s boldness had grown, and she had somewhat picked up Xiao Zhao’s temperament, wishing they could act sooner and eliminate the thorns in their eyes.
Xiao Zhao felt the same, her hands itching with impatience.
“Miss, aren’t we going to act yet?”
Xue Sui smiled. “Today the breeze is gentle and the sun is warm, an auspicious day, suitable for action.”
Xiao Zhao’s eyes widened, her face beaming with joy. “Really? Who are we going to kill?”
These past few days, she and Ru Yi had suffered much from the ill fortune of Liuli Pavilion and had long wished to see them fall.
Xue Sui, however, chuckled. “We’ll wait for the fish to bite.”
Xiao Zhao deflated. “We still have to wait?”
Xue Sui glanced at her. “The fishpond is so large. After expending great effort to cast a net, are we only going to catch two small fish?”
This time, she intended to do something big.
Li Zhao: She intends to do something big, could she be referring to… me?
Xue Sui: …
Reader: What lewd thoughts are you having!?
