My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 35.1

Xie Yu’s smile was laced with insincerity, giving off a chilling coldness.

Xiao Kunning abruptly stood up, her sleeve sweeping the chess bowl, sending white pieces scattering across the floor. She was shocked and resentful: “Is it fun for the Master to play tricks on me the moment you recover?”

The girl opposite her, who had been guileless and endearing a moment ago, now changed completely, like a hedgehog bristling with spines. Xie Yu gazed at the scattered chess pieces. “I was merely testing your studies. You show no improvement, yet your methods of handling affairs have matured considerably. For instance, your words this morning: ‘The Master was tired last night, and it would be impolite to disturb her.’ It was calm yet retained your own style. Very good, indeed.”

Xiao Kunning pressed her lips tightly, offering no reply.

After a moment of silence, footsteps sounded outside. Nuongqin walked in briskly and spoke directly to Xiao Kunning: “Today is a rest day. His Majesty personally visited the Yan estate and bestowed the title of Duke of Jin, hereditary and perpetual, upon Prime Minister Yan.”

Xiao Kunning pursed her lips at her and took half a step back, revealing Xie Yu’s figure and signaling that Xie Yu had recovered.

Nuongqin was straightforward and paid no attention to Xie Yu. She said seriously: “The Master has not yet fully recovered. I feel like something is amiss with this ennoblement.”

The Empress Dowager did not agree to the Emperor bringing Yan Ruyu into the palace, and Prime Minister Yan’s attitude was also obvious. The Emperor’s move completely disgraced the Empress Dowager. Why such a grand display for a single woman?

Xie Yu, however, said: “The Emperor’s action is purely to humiliate the Empress Dowager. Prime Minister Yan is the Emperor’s maternal uncle, which is true, and he can also become the Emperor’s father-in-law. It’s up to him how he plays it.”

Hearing this, it sounded like the Emperor was employing a strategy of division. Nuongqin nodded, excitedly saying: “The Master is right, the Master…”

She suddenly stopped, looking back at the Master in confusion.

Xie Yu was expressionless, leaning slightly back. Her entire posture was relaxed, and the pulsating veins on her long, jade-like neck were clearly visible. What was different from yesterday was the cold smile on her lips, as chilly as a solitary moon.

Seeing this, Nuongqin was overjoyed, close to tears. Xie Yu spoke openly in front of Xiao Kunning: “Do not get involved in the Yan family’s affairs. Have someone make a trip to Princess Gaoyang, telling her that the flowers at the Xie estate are beautiful and inviting her to come take a look tomorrow.”

Xiao Kunning was not surprised. Xie Yu was like a demon from a painting: well-connected and respected. She would not offend Gaoyang. Now that she was lucid, she would naturally clean up the mess.

Nuongqin accepted the order and withdrew. Xiao Kunning remained standing there.

Xie Yu seemed to be deep in thought. Her already outstanding beauty was now tinged with worry; her elegant nose and delicate eyebrows were very pleasing to the eye. Xiao Kunning was not in the mood to appreciate her and spoke up, wanting to leave the Xie estate: “Since the Master has recovered, your student will take her leave.”

Xie Yu remained silent, her eyebrows slightly raised. After a moment of quiet, the person opposite her grew a little impatient. “Classes will resume in a few days. What are your plans?”

“What plans?” Xiao Kunning was utterly confused.

Xie Yu was initially impatient but, seeing her bewilderment, suppressed her displeasure and spoke gently: “Entering court.”

Xiao Kunning forced a laugh: “You always say your student is foolish. How could I have the ability to enter court? The court is full of schemes and treacherous waters. Do you think I’m suitable? Furthermore, my father incurred His Majesty’s displeasure over the matter of deceiving Xiao Wenxue. I fear we won’t be able to stay in Chang’an. It’s also inappropriate for me to stay here alone. My plan is to leave Chang’an with my father. The Master need not worry.”

What a joke. She knew her limits. She didn’t have the capability to be a female official, or she would only end up miserable again.

Xie Yu glanced at her, with a look of disappointment, and said: “Assistant Minister Xiao may not necessarily leave the capital. You’ve been overly thoughtful. He merely suffers from a lapse in virtue and will stop where he is.”

Promotion was out of the question, but he wouldn’t necessarily be demoted.

Xiao Kunning didn’t have many thoughts about Xiao Mingwang’s official position. Promotion or demotion made no difference. “The Master is too kind. Your student is foolish and does not deserve your attention.”

She was utterly defiant, refusing to agree at all costs. Xie Yu became irritated: “Are you resentful of me?”

In her previous life, Xiao Kunning would have been afraid, given her feelings for the other woman. But now, she didn’t even blink, saying blandly: “The Master is jesting. Your affairs hold no interest for your student. The world is so vast; I just want to go out and see it. Whom you love and whom you hate is entirely your business and has nothing to do with me.”

Hearing her mention the past, Xie Yu felt she had been out of line and knew she had been frightening before. She spoke kindly: “Then what are you afraid of? I won’t eat you.”

Xiao Kunning didn’t look up, staring at her toes, and said weakly: “The Master is overthinking things. I will keep your secret absolutely confidential. Once I leave Chang’an, no one will know, which will also be beneficial to you. Drawing me into court will only bring you harm.”

After her close contact with Xie Yu, she understood clearly that the wisest path was not to contend with Xie Yu. The connections Xie Yu held were beyond her reach, even with a second chance at life.

In the previous life, they were on opposing sides. She couldn’t blame Xie Yu; she was the one who was unlucky. Without the capability, she shouldn’t have coveted the position of Empress. Now, she understood perfectly: she should stay far away from Xie Yu, very far away, and not touch the dust-covered past.

Hearing such dispirited words, Xie Yu felt she wasn’t foolish, but rather heartless, like someone who had seen through the world, finding it utterly boring.

Unpersuaded, she decided to let Xiao Kunning be for the time being. As long as she remained in the estate, it was better to keep her. She got up and walked toward the study.

Xiao Kunning wanted to hear about affairs, and regardless of whether Xie Yu would allow it, she followed.

Xie Yu saw through her little ploy instantly but didn’t expose it. Instead, she deliberately slowed her pace, waiting for her to catch up.

The study was piled high with intelligence reports, nearly covering the entire desk. Xie Yu casually picked up a letter from Jiangnan and handed it to Xiao Kunning: “Since you are heartless, why bother following me? Or do you know something about Wen Yukou?”

Xiao Kunning took the letter. Opening it, she realized it was about the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce. After the Chamber of Commerce disbanded, merchants everywhere held resentment toward the court but dared not cause trouble, only taking their hatred out on the Emperor.

Evidently, Zhao Mian had lost the support of the people in Jiangnan.

Xie Yu asked her: “What can you discern from this?”

Xiao Kunning pondered: “His Majesty failed to secure the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce and also lost the hearts of the people in Jiangnan.”

Xie Yu smiled faintly: “Much smarter. Look at this.”

It was about Wen Yukou’s past. Wen Yukou had a difficult life in the Wen family. Her parents had died, and her uncle, cousins, and sisters looked down upon her. Now that Wen Yukou was transferred to Chang’an, the Wen family loudly and publicly acknowledged Wen Yukou as a member of their family. The scholarly Wen family was doing something utterly shameful.

The Wen family was considered an average household in Luoyang, but in Chang’an, they were worthless. Furthermore, the Wen family had not made much progress in their official careers over the years. Wen Yukou’s father repeatedly failed the imperial exams and died from prolonged frustration.

Therefore, Wen Yukou had not pursued an official career but had become the new Prefect of Jingzhao. The Wen family felt great pride and naturally re-acknowledged Wen Yukou as one of their own.

Xiao Kunning knew these old stories. When Wen Yukou publicly scolded Xie Yu that day, the Wen family panicked. Old Madam Wen personally visited Xie Yu to apologize, claiming she would remove Wen Yukou’s name from the clan register and disown her.

Xie Yu looked at Xiao Kunning’s troubled face and sneered: “Wen Yukou has a one-track mind. You and she together make two one-track minds.”

Xiao Kunning couldn’t help herself and retorted: “How many tracks does your mind have?”

This person was unlikable once awake, not as cute as little Xie Yu. Thinking of her soft spot, Xiao Kunning was delighted: “Does the Master remember anything that happened after you were poisoned?”

Xie Yu said blandly: “No.”

Xiao Kunning sneered: “We have one track, but you didn’t have even half a track, running after Proprietor Gu for half an hour for a bowl of chicken soup.”

Xie Yu, who had been lowering her gaze and flipping through documents, flinched. She pursed her lips, looked up at Xiao Kunning with her dark, distinct eyes for a moment, and finally said: “Whenever Gu Ning is involved, things never proceed as planned.”

That answer is shameless enough.

In the daylight, Xie Yu’s face was flawless and beautiful. If one ignored her shameless nature, she was somewhat pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately, Xiao Kunning had no feelings for this woman. There were thousands of women in the world; how could she have been so blind in her past life to fall for this thing?

Beauty misled people, but she was now awake. She boldly shot Xie Yu a look of disdain: “And what about the time you were caught in a thunderstorm and climbed into my bed in the middle of the night, refusing to leave my room?”

Xie Yu heard this, acting as if the incident had never happened, and handed her another document: “Someone impeached Wen Yukou for miscarriage of justice in a case and for having private dealings with Gu Ning.”

Private dealings with Gu Ning? Xiao Kunning didn’t believe it. The two were worlds apart and had no connection whatsoever. The document was merely the work of the Censorate. She was naive before, but after becoming Empress, the Censorate impeached her every few days for being overly extravagant, jealous, cruel, and unforgiving.

It was baseless nonsense, and she didn’t care. She casually glanced at Xie Yu: “Grand Tutor and Proprietor Gu have known each other for a long time. You should know the nature of their relationship.”

Xie Yu replied impassively: “I am not familiar with Gu Ning.”

Xiao Kunning blinked her ‘I don’t believe you’ eyes. “You think I’ll believe that? Proprietor Gu said you two knew each other before I was born.”

Xie Yu’s pale, slender fingers pinched a document. Her bright red lips were tightly pursed, and she stared at Xiao Kunning with deep, dark eyes. Finally, she said: “Am I that old?”

Xie Yu came to the capital at eighteen, settling the situation with a single plan, and that was four years ago. A typical person of her age would have long been married, or at least have a partner or a lover. Someone like Xie Yu was rare.

At twenty-two, she wasn’t old, yet the things she accomplished were beyond her age.

Xiao Kunning feared her identity as a demon and dared not say too much. She simply looked up at the sky: Do you have no self-awareness?

Xie Yu was holding another document concerning Wen Yukou’s impeachment. After clutching it for a long time, her heart sank. Finally, she put the document back in its place.

The staff member requested an audience outside. Upon entering, he first said: “The Prefect of Jingzhao has released Bishu.”

Xie Yu showed no change in expression. “No matter. If she is released, so be it. Invite her to the banquet tomorrow to serve.”

The staff member didn’t ask who the banquet was for. He accepted the order and said: “There is one more thing. His Majesty’s attendant came to find your subordinate yesterday, requesting that the Master visit the Empress Dowager.”

Xiao Kunning found it strange. What use was it to call Xie Yu for the imperial family’s affairs? Could Xie Yu solve this matter?

Xie Yu sneered, opening the letter sent from Princess Gaoyang’s fief. She found it amusing and said: “I know. Also, what has Princess Gaoyang been busy with lately?”

The staff member replied: “Princess Gaoyang has always been extravagant. After arriving in Chang’an, she has been extensively purchasing things. A few days ago, she went to Prime Minister Yan’s estate and almost angered Princess Jingyang into driving her away.”

Gaoyang was the one who knew most clearly about the rivalry between Jingyang and Leyang over a husband. Her fief was wealthy and far from Chang’an. It was rumored that Emperor Gaozong had given her the power to raise troops in her fief just before his death. The army wasn’t large, but it was enough for self-defense. She had never been involved in political affairs over the years, and the late Emperor had even forgotten about his youngest sister.

Who knew that for the Empress Dowager’s birthday this time, she would show up, causing unease in Chang’an and making the rivalry between the two princesses over a husband public knowledge.

The corners of Xie Yu’s mouth curled into a hint of mockery, her eyes incredibly deep. She said: “Ignore her. Whatever chaos she causes, you should assist her from behind.”

Xiao Kunning subtly glanced at her. Sure enough, Xie Yu is planning something. She knew she should keep her distance.

Xie Yu called the staff member over to talk and looked at Xiao Kunning on the side: “I will have Nuongqin send you back to your estate.”

Xiao Kunning was thrilled, leaving without another word and following Nuongqin. The Xie estate was full of danger, and staying away from Xie Yu was better than anything.

Nuongqin led Xiao Kunning away through the side gate. At the gatehouse, many people holding cards were waiting to see Xie Yu. A young man in fine clothes was talking to someone: “I heard the Prince of Yanping is seriously ill. Do you think the originally designated Princess of Yanping is the current Noble Consort?”

“It’s hard to say. At the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, they spoke of the Yan family’s legitimate eldest daughter. The Noble Consort has several older sisters above her. In my opinion, the Yan family must have tricked the Prince of Yanping.”

“The Noble Consort possesses beauty that can topple cities; she is a rare beauty. I heard she has always admired the Prince of Yanping, but he showed no interest. If that’s the case, it doesn’t sound like deception. I think His Majesty stole his brother’s Princess.”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Don’t speak carelessly. Discussing His Majesty rashly is a great crime.”

Nuongqin didn’t pay attention. She turned back to look. Slow-moving Xiao Kunning seemed interested in what these people were saying. Nuongqin kindly said: “The Master allows them to speak. She says this way one can hear external voices and understand the hearts of the people.”