Chapter 93: That Counts as Teasing, Right...
"His Majesty... he won’t listen to anyone’s counsel..." he said, his voice strained. "But what about Princess Xuanyang?"
Song Junzhan still wasn’t ready to give up. Otherwise, what would his years of perseverance mean? What would the deaths of his forefathers and the suffering of his entire clan have been for?
Xiao Li looked at his reddened eyes but said nothing.
Song Junzhan asked again, "You said you need a tempting enough bargaining chip. Is there anything about me that you might find worthy? I am willing to offer it."
Xiao Li raised a hand and rubbed her brow. "Why are you so stubborn?"
"You’re clearly intelligent, yet you insist on being so obstinate about this."
She lifted her teacup, took a sip, and sighed. "Instead of desperately trying to make a tool work for you, why not just find a tool that does? Why keep banging your head against a wall?"
The words sounded strange at first, but once their deeper meaning was understood, they were nothing short of treasonous.
She was the Emperor’s sister, yet she was the one saying them.
Xiao Li propped her head on her hand. "Quzhou, Liang Province, or Tongzhou. Which do you prefer?"
Song Junzhan replied, "Those are all northern border states, plagued by constant warfare."
"And all places of exile," Xiao Li added.
"Implementing the imperial examinations nationwide requires the Emperor’s consent. That would take a very enlightened and wise ruler. And most importantly, you’d have to get past the aristocratic families. You know better than anyone how difficult that is. But implementing it on a smaller scale isn’t hard. You can’t waste your efforts, nor can you be blinded by obsession. You need power and influence. Only then will you have the backing to challenge the aristocratic families in the future."
"These three states are impoverished, but they don’t lack the exiled descendants of aristocratic families. It all depends on whether someone can unite them and grow a towering tree from the yellow sands of the borderlands."
Song Junzhan stared at Xiao Li, stunned, as if he’d had an epiphany.
This was a path he had never considered. Of course, it wasn’t one he *could* have thought of. After all, he lacked the power to control several large states without being executed by the Emperor.
After learning Xiao Li’s identity, he had made a point of looking into her. Quzhou was apparently her fief. As for Liang Province and Tongzhou, since she’d brought them up, she must have already taken them into her possession as well.
In the current dynasty, aside from the founding Emperor’s own sister, no other princess had ever been granted a fief.
And she hadn’t had this fief from the start. Even Quzhou, she had only possessed it for half a year.
Six months ago was precisely when she had her falling out with the Prince Consort. And now, six months later, the Lu family has fallen and the entire clan has been exiled.
According to the rumors, the Princess’s only involvement with the Lu family was kicking them while they were down—taking the opportunity to divorce the Prince Consort, and then having him killed.
But even without knowing the full story, he could make some educated guesses. In the Lu family’s affair, the Princess had done far more than what was publicly known. The family’s downfall was likely inseparable from her.
How else could she have obtained an imperial edict for the divorce, one with such humiliating terms? The Emperor would never have indulged her without good reason, let alone allowed her to take men to kill Lu Yanzhi in person.
And now, he understood even better. Xiao Li possessed far more vision and daring than he had credited her for... and far more ambition.
He shot to his feet, wanting to say something.
But Xiao Li spoke first. "My escort has arrived. Thank you for your hospitality. Farewell."
She took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned back to look at Song Junzhan with a teasing glint in her eye. "You know, I’m a simple woman. And there is indeed something about you I find worthy, Young Master. This face of yours, for example. It’s truly one of a kind."
The words Song Junzhan had been about to say caught in his throat. A faint blush crept up from his neck, and he instantly became flustered.
’Was she... flirting with me?’
-----
It was Rong Qing who came for Xiao Li, along with the remaining guards. They didn’t approach closely. Instead, they sent up a signal from a distance and waited for her to emerge.
Rong Qing was covered in the thick stench of blood—some his, some from others. He was wrapped in numerous bandages. He must have had many wounds, but none of them seemed deep.
"How is Yang Jun?"
"His arm and abdomen are severely wounded," Rong Qing reported. "The physician has already bandaged him."
Before Xiao Li could ask, he continued, "All the wounded assassins committed suicide by taking poison. Po Feng escaped with five men in the end. I was unable to eliminate him. I await your punishment, Princess."
’Why would I punish him? If it weren’t for him, I’d already be dead.’
’Not that I care whether I live or die right now, but killing myself is one thing. I refuse to die at the hands of another. I just can’t stomach the indignation.’
"Po Feng is a master of martial arts. It’s perfectly normal that you couldn’t stop him. They’re unlikely to try again so soon."
"By the way, didn’t Po Feng send anyone after me?"
Rong Qing replied, "He did. Five men pursued you. By the time we arrived, we only found five bodies on the ground."
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow. ’So the Young Master wasn’t just making empty boasts.’
---
The idea about the fiefs had come to Xiao Li on a whim. Honestly, she’d never given a second thought to those three states. It was just that while talking to the Young Master, the idea had suddenly struck her.
Xiao Jingyun would never revive the imperial examination system. All of Song Junzhan’s efforts were bound to be for nothing.
In Xiao Li’s eyes, there were only two real solutions: either replace the Emperor, or become the Emperor herself.
Her three fiefs were remote, but their combined territory was not insignificant. If someone could develop them, find an opportunity to declare himself king, and then expand into the surrounding areas, a new kingdom could be established.
The border folk were fierce, and there was no shortage of capable warriors. With the addition of an imperial examination system to select talented officials, developing the region would be no problem at all.
The fiefs may have been hers, but she couldn’t care less about them. After all, as soon as she found an opportunity, she would leave this world. She had no intention of governing them, nor did she care about the tax revenue.
’Since they’re useless to me, I might as well let Song Junzhan manage them.’
A moment after the words left her mouth, however, she felt a pang of regret.
Some people are born to be kings, and others are born to be ministers. Song Junzhan was clearly the latter.
Had he served an enlightened monarch, he would undoubtedly have been a virtuous, resolute, and capable minister. But clearly, his luck was wanting.
But if she really gave him those three states, those harsh and unforgiving lands... he’d probably lose his life long before he could carve out a new nation.
Even though she now knew Song Junzhan had his own power base—one possibly even stronger than she’d imagined—his physical constitution was a critical flaw.
Once his life was gone, it would all be for naught.
’All things considered, it’s best not to interfere with his fate.’
’As for the flirting... I’ll just consider it a way to lighten the mood. From the look on his face, he seemed like he was about to cry.’
---
"Princess."
Just as Xiao Li stepped through the manor gates, Hong Yue and Lan Yue, who had been waiting there with worried eyes, started to step forward, only to be beaten to it by someone else.
Shuang Han shot out in front of Xiao Li, looking her up and down with concern. "I heard you were attacked, Princess! This servant was worried sick. It’s wonderful that you’re unharmed."
Hong Yue and Lan Yue’s faces darkened. He had stolen their lines.
But Shuang Han was here by the Princess’s decree, so she would be the one to deal with him.
Xiao Li merely gave him a fleeting glance, her expression unreadable. She gave a cool nod and then walked toward Hong Yue and Lan Yue.
She treated Shuang Han as if he were completely insignificant.
"We’ve prepared a hot bath for you, Your Highness," Hong Yue said affectionately as she came to Xiao Li’s side. "You should bathe and change right away to wash away the misfortune."
She didn’t forget to glance back at Shuang Han with undisguised ridicule.
’Ever since the Princess awoke, that Shuang Han has constantly been trying to get her attention, doing everything he can to make his presence known.’
’Does he really think the Princess kept him around because she was actually seduced by him?’
’That with the Prince Consort dead, he has a chance now?’
’How absurd.’
’As if he’s worthy of fantasizing about the Princess’s precious body.’
Xiao Li was oblivious to the drama unfolding between her attendants. All she wanted now was to take a bath, then head to the palace to lodge a complaint.
’Let that fool be benevolent. He gets to be the virtuous king, while all the assassins come after me. It would be outrageous if he didn’t compensate me for this.’