The Double-Chapter 538 - 162 Persuasion

After Xiao Deyin left, Jiang Li returned to her room, and Tonger couldn’t help asking her with curiosity, "Miss, what does Mr. Xiao suddenly coming to see you about? He doesn’t seem to take much notice of you usually."

"Indeed, he doesn’t pay attention on normal days, but at the moment of life and death, he comes to use me as a human shield," Jiang Li responded with a smile.

Tonger was startled, "Life and death moment? Human shield? What life and death moment? Miss, are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Jiang Li said, "your miss is not foolish."

Tonger felt relieved but was still somewhat indignant, "He really isn’t a good person."

Jiang Li looked out of the window and smiled to herself, indeed, Xiao Deyin was not a good person.

She had asked Ye Mingyu to intimidate Xiao Deyin, aiming to break the alliance between Xiao Deyin and Princess Yongning. But due to some unforeseen event, or perhaps she had miscalculated from the beginning, Xiao Deyin’s intention was not to protect himself, but rather to take the initiative and rid himself of Princess Yongning for good.

In this regard, Xiao Deyin was far more capable than the person he used to be. Jiang Li thought that when Xiao Deyin faced something that could potentially threaten him, he would eliminate it directly. However, she also knew that she alone could not move the formidable Princess Yongning and would need to find an ally. What Jiang Li hadn’t expected was that Xiao Deyin’s ally turned out to be her.

Xiao Deyin had a good plan. Since he had previously proposed in court that the person behind Feng Yutang was Princess Yongning, he would definitely not fear Princess Yongning’s power. From beginning to end, Xiao Deyin lamented his own lack of influence and power, and he also spoke of Xue Fangfei’s pitiful situation to try to arouse Jiang Li’s sympathy.

Perhaps in Xiao Deyin’s view, if she dealt with Xue Fangfei’s case the same way she handled the Tongxiang incident, she would surely defend Xue Fangfei. If she gained the upper hand and Xiao Deyin stepped forward, pointing out that Princess Yongning was the one who plotted against Xue Fangfei and confirming the illicit affair between Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, Princess Yongning would be utterly overthrown, and she could then live in Yanjing City worry-free.

If Jiang Li was at a disadvantage, Xiao Deyin might very well not stand up for her at all. Instead, he would likely go with the flow and possibly even offer Jiang Li’s head as a gift to ingratiate himself with Princess Yongning.

This person was indeed too cunning.

Bai Xue busily collected the dried books, placing them one by one into a box, and casually asked, "Miss, what do you plan to do about her? Will you just ignore her?"

"That’s not it," Jiang Li replied, "She seems to know quite a lot. If possible, to learn more truths from her mouth could prove to be a very profitable deal."

"That’s right, that’s right," Tonger interjected, "Our miss never loses out in her deals. Didn’t our miss buy that Sweat-Blood Precious Horse from East Market, worth ten thousand taels of gold, with just five hundred taels of silver? Whether it’s silver or life, anyone who plays tricks with our miss is headed down a dead end." She spoke fiercely, making Jiang Li laugh despite herself.

She didn’t agree to Xiao Deyin’s request outright for this very reason. Xiao Deyin anxiously hoped that she would confront Princess Yongning and divert disaster elsewhere. To make Jiang Li act quickly, Xiao Deyin would surely reveal many unknown truths to pique Jiang Li’s interest. Many of these statements might be embellished by Xiao Deyin, but once stripped of the embellishments, they are akin to the truth.

And these truths were exactly what Jiang Li needed.

...

The transition from winter to spring seemed to begin with a rain.

After a light rain, the bare earth beneath the window, barren all winter, suddenly sprouted delicate green shoots, which looked so vibrant they brought joy to the heart. Knowledgeable farmers claimed that this indicated the snow in Yanjing City was unlikely to fall again.

Winter was passing, and spring was on its way.

In the imperial palace, the tediousness of winter gave way to extra vitality with the arrival of spring. The gardeners in the Imperial Garden began busily selecting new seeds to sow, waiting for the weather to warm further so that everywhere burst into brilliant blooms, creating a lively and attractive scene which would last well into summer.

The liveliest spot was Empress Dowager Liu’s side palace. Unlike the Empress Dowager, who favored simplicity and meditation on Buddha, and did not care for flamboyant flowers in the palace—preferring plain elegance—Empress Dowager Liu was as ostentatious as her nature. Even before the arrival of spring, her palace’s garden was the first to bustle with activity.

Giggles and laughter from ladies emanated from the side palace. Empress Dowager Liu sat upon a plush couch, with exquisite pastries in a plate beside her, while the zither-playing palace maids had stepped down. Empress Dowager Liu turned to her daughter, Princess Yongning, who was sitting aside, and asked, "What is the matter you wanted to discuss with me?"