Chapter 100: She Just Beckoned With Her Finger, And You Immediately Follow Her

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3614052
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

Xu Zhian had previously crossed paths with Su Sheng.  

Back in the day, Su Sheng had been a man of exceptional talent, with an elegant and refined demeanor.  

As a young scholar who had ranked third in the imperial examinations, he had been the dream of countless noble ladies in the capital.  

But now, the current Su Sheng was weathered and haggard, his hair disheveled, his eyes lifeless. No matter how handsome his features might have been, they were now overshadowed by the unkempt stubble and loose, unbound hair. Without prior acquaintance, it would have been difficult to recognize the man he had been in his youth.  

The robe casually draped over his prison uniform could do little to conceal the wretched state he was in.  

Knowing that he had just been released from prison, Xu Zhian sighed lightly before stepping forward, placing a hand on his shoulder, and speaking with concern,  

“Brother Su, you have truly suffered.”  

Su Sheng froze for a moment, unable to immediately recall who the man before him was.  

“Father, this is Mr. Xu Zhian, the visiting scholar from the Prime Minister’s residence.” 

Only then did Su Sheng remember who Xu Zhian was. He raised his hand to clasp his fists in a formal salute and politely replied,  

“Brother Xu, you are too kind…”

The two of them could barely be considered acquaintances, yet both were seasoned veterans of the bureaucratic world. Their superficial words of courtesy appeared sincere and heartfelt to an outsider—so much so that one might mistake them for old comrades who had shared life-or-death experiences.  

Su Zian concealed the ridicule in her eyes and refrained from shattering the facade of false camaraderie between the two. Letting them reminisce as they wished, she focused instead on escorting Su Sheng, who had finished writing the confession, over to Li Qiubai’s side. Handing it to her, she leaned in close and whispered softly by her ear,  

“Your Highness, I have fulfilled the mission.”  

Li Qiubai nodded in satisfaction, took the confession, and began reviewing it immediately.  

The confession clearly detailed the reasons behind the massacre, the orders given, and the identities of those involved.  

However, Su Sheng insisted that the usable witnesses and physical evidence could only be provided by him personally when he appeared before the Emperor.  

He claimed that he was merely a scapegoat forced to accompany the perpetrators.  

He had observed the events with a cold eye, unable to stop them.  

He was not innocent, but neither was he the mastermind.

Because of his wife and children, Su Sheng was even forced to take the blame for this crime.

According to usual practice, if Su Sheng were convicted as the mastermind, the entire Su family would have been implicated.  

Now, this confession had given Su Zian a chance.  

When Li Qiubai finished reviewing the confession, the two others had already wrapped up their pleasantries.  

As she handed the confession to Xu Zhian, Li Qiubai subtly hinted,  

“Miss Su once saved my life. Mr. Xu, please convey to the Prime Minister and the Fourth Prince that when they bring Mr. Su to court to meet the Emperor, they should persuade His Majesty not to implicate innocent people and ensure the Su family remains unharmed.”

Her words were tactful, but Xu Zhian understood the underlying meaning—if he didn’t agree, their cooperation would end here.

“It seems Brother Su has truly raised a remarkable daughter. Rest assured, Your Highness, this matter is not difficult to handle. However…” Xu Zhian glanced briefly at the confession before putting it away, continuing,  

“As long as Brother Su does not make any mistakes when meeting His Majesty, this issue will not be a problem.”

Having served as a strategist for so long, Xu Zhian could easily discern what Su Sheng was planning.  

Su Sheng wanted to leave himself a way out. He feared they might silence him, so he intended to reserve the most critical details for when he faced the Emperor, ensuring they couldn’t betray him once the deal was done.

Similarly, Su Sheng also caught the deeper meaning behind Xu Zhian’s words.  

It was nothing more than a subtle message: as long as he behaved, the Su family’s wife and children would remain unharmed.  

They were mutually guarded, constantly counterbalancing each other.  

Originally, Su Sheng did not trust anyone in the bureaucratic world, including the Princess and the Prince of Yu, let alone the officials aligned with the Prime Minister’s faction.  

Had it not been for what his daughter had said to him this morning, how could he have allowed himself to be manipulated by them?  

Even so, he could not bear to see his daughter heartbroken and disappointed. After hearing Xu Zhian’s words, he merely smiled faintly and replied amicably,  

“Brother Xu, rest assured. Since I have already given my word to Her Highness, I will naturally keep my promise.”  

Back when Su Sheng was still in prison, he had been very unyielding, like a stone impervious to water or oil. No matter how the interrogators pressed him, he refused to say a single word.  

Seeing him now so cooperative, Li Qiubai couldn’t help but flash an amused smile and added in agreement,  

“In that case, I trust Mr. Xu can rest assured as well. However, it was only by sheer luck that I managed to make the Prince of Yu suffer a small loss yesterday. He certainly would not let it slide. To avoid his men causing any further complications, I suggest you take Mr. Su and depart for the capital as soon as possible.”  

At that, Xu Zhian handed over the token and the list to Li Qiubai before taking Su Sheng and withdrawing.  

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Watching the two leave the tearoom, Su Zian locked the door and walked back to Li Qiubai. Lowering her voice, she asked,  

“Your Highness, are you not afraid they will burn their bridges? Once my father is brought before His Majesty, the fate of the Su family might not concern anyone.”

Su Sheng was different from Shi Hongzhang. Shi Hongzhang was selfish and cowardly, always prioritizing his own life. If he had to choose between saving his family or himself, he would undoubtedly choose himself without hesitation.

For Su Sheng, however, the Su family was his weakness.

He would rather sacrifice himself than deny his family a chance to survive.  

This was why Li Qiubai was willing to use the Su family’s safety as leverage in her deal with Su Sheng.  

In response to Su Zian’s doubts, Li Qiubai simply smiled and patiently explained,  

“Do not worry. I know what I am doing. Even children understand not to put all their eggs in one basket. How could I not? Since I promised that no harm will come to your family, rest assured. I have already sent someone else to the capital with a letter. As long as Su Sheng and the Prime Minister jointly testify against the Prince of Yu in the imperial hall, there will be someone to speak up for your innocent relatives.”

From this perspective, it seemed as though the Su family had secured an advantage.  

Su Zian lowered her gaze, momentarily finding it difficult to believe that the matter could be resolved so easily.  

Just yesterday, her worries had yet to be fully sorted out. Who could have imagined that overnight, the situation would change so drastically?  

Nonetheless, she knew that nobody would willingly engage in a losing trade. Having received such a significant favor, she dared not—nor did she wish to—leave such a debt unpaid.  

Bowing respectfully to Li Qiubai, she expressed her gratitude before saying,  

“If events truly unfold as Your Highness has said, then I must ensure that this will not be a losing deal for you. Should Your Highness need anything from me in the future, please feel free to instruct me. Within the scope of my abilities, I will do my utmost to assist you.”

“This deal is not a loss at all.” Li Qiubai twirled her teacup lightly before taking a small sip. Then she looked at Su Zian with a smile and asked,  

“What if I said I wanted the Jinwei Camp under my command? Could Zian help me?”

The Jinwei Camp was responsible for patrolling and defending Yecheng, under the jurisdiction of the city’s garrison commander, the Ying family.  

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3614052
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

Coincidentally, Su Zian’s childhood friend happened to be someone within the Ying family who could command more than half of the Jinwei Camp's forces. That person was the only connection Su Zian had with the Jinwei Camp.

How could Su Zian possibly miss the deeper meaning behind these words?  

Upon hearing them, Su Zian’s expression darkened, and she immediately raised her eyes to meet Li Qiubai’s gaze.  

At this moment, although the Princess was smiling faintly, her smile did not reach her eyes.  

This tiger-like demeanor beneath a smiling facade sent a chill down Su Zian’s spine and filled her with regret.  

Why had she been so foolish as to seek a deal with a tiger? Now she was not only unable to extricate herself, but she might also drag that person into this mire…  

After struggling to calm her agitated thoughts, Su Zian finally managed to force a smile and firmly refused,  

“Your Highness, this is a transaction between you and me. There is no need to involve others, right? You can use me however you wish—I accept that since I was the one who sought you out first. I owe you a favor, and even if it costs my life, I will do everything in my power to repay it. But this matter has nothing to do with her. I beg Your Highness not to target her for this.  

Furthermore, I am me, and she is her. We are nothing more than ordinary friends. My choices are my own, but I cannot force her to make the same choices as I do. Therefore, I cannot help you with this matter. I hope Your Highness will understand.”

“Oh? Just ordinary friends?”

Seeing Su Zian showing signs of turning hostile and breaking her promise, Li Qiubai remained calm. She leisurely set down the teacup in her hand and smiled faintly.

“Mm, rest assured. I have never been one to force others. But as you said, this is her matter, and everything will depend on her own choice. There is no need for you to refuse on her behalf.”

With that, she did not wait for Su Zian’s response. Li Qiubai rose from her seat and walked to the window, opening it without sparing another glance at Su Zian’s increasingly grim expression.

“Why not let us take a look and see what your so-called ordinary friend will choose for you?”

Su Zian froze.

“Your Highness, what do you mean by this?”

Could it be that she had sent someone to threaten Ying Siling?

Li Qiubai smiled without answering and continued to leisurely observe the scene below.

“Just watch.”

From this position, the open space within the post station was visible in its entirety.

Xu Zhian was quick and efficient. The members of his entourage were already busy moving their luggage onto the carriages. Judging by the activity, it seemed they would soon be ready to leave.

Unlike Xu Zhian’s bustling men, the people Li Qiubai had brought were standing idly at various corners, quietly watching the actions of those from the capital with sharp eyes, ready to guard against any suspicious behavior.

Meanwhile, Meng Chang'an, who had hurried over from the riverbank earlier, was now being held up by He Changping and was being lectured at the foot of the building.

When the Princess’ gaze fell upon Young Master Meng, who had been looking down and kicking stones at her feet, seemed to sense her attention. She suddenly looked up sharply, locking eyes directly with the source of the gaze.

Meng Chang'an, who had been suppressing her impatience with a sullen face, could not help but smile when she met the Princess’ eyes.

Seeing this, the Princess could not help but smile.

This scene was witnessed not only by He Changping but also by Su Zian, who was standing by the window with the Princess, and even Xu Zhian, who was pulling Su Sheng toward the carriage, happened to see it as well.

Unlike the Princess’ usual stiff and insincere smiles when dealing with others, the rare warmth and softness in her expression at this moment left each of them with their own thoughts.

At the same time, Li Qiubai paid no attention to the gazes around her. She shifted her hand slightly on the windowsill and beckoned to the Young Master below with a motion of her finger.

Meng Chang'an swallowed hard.

Momentarily captivated by the Princess’ beauty, the Young Master unconsciously took a step toward her.

Had her elder brother not stopped her in time, the Young Master might have already climbed up the wall and through the window.

Noticing the subtle and curious glances from those around, Meng Chang'an nervously averted her gaze from the Princess’ face and silently lowered her head.

Hmm, there are too many outsiders here. She could not afford to get too close to the Princess and cause her any trouble.

He Changping could not help but pat his sister’s shoulder and sigh,  

“You really need to stop running to her every time she beckons with her finger.”

Even though the person speaking was her own elder brother, being reminded by the man who was currently the Princess’ “husband in name” still left Meng Chang'an feeling a little uncomfortable.

The Young Master sniffled before replying dismissively,  

“I did not…”

He Changping now only feared that his foolish little sister would still count silver for the Princess even after being sold off by her.

Knowing that persuasion was useless, He Changping sighed softly and relented,  

“Alright, I will not say anything else. Do not get upset. She is right there and will not run away. You should go drink your medicine first, so your cold from last night does not worsen. Otherwise, she will only worry more about you.”

At the same time, Yuechu, who had been in the post station’s kitchen personally brewing medicine, finally emerged carrying the bowl.

Xu Zhian did not pay much attention to how these people interacted. He merely glanced over briefly before continuing his conversation and escorting Su Sheng onto the carriage.

He then moved to the carriage behind Su Sheng’s.

It seemed the rumors were true—the dignified Princess indeed had such a preference.

Moreover, the siblings bore an uncanny resemblance. Standing together, they looked as if they had been carved from the same mold. How could anyone not guess their relationship?

What was more, love in one’s eyes could never be concealed. The deep affection unintentionally revealed in their gazes earlier could be seen by anyone with functioning eyes who had some awareness of the situation. Based on that alone, Xu Zhian was confident enough to return and report to the Prime Minister that they had a firm grasp on Li Qiubai’s weakness.

It was a pity, though, that back in the capital, they had been completely played by these individuals.

However, the disciple traveling with Xu Zhian was not as insightful as him. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he quickly caught up and asked in a low voice,  

“Teacher, could there be some kind of trap here? Otherwise, why would she refuse to personally escort Su Sheng to the capital? It is obvious that she is using us, is it not?”

Xu Zhian smiled confidently and said,  

“She is already tied to the Qingyang Clan and cannot leave. Given the current situation, if she dared to simply walk away, the Prince of Yu would certainly bring bloodshed to the Qingyang Clan. If she does not want trouble for the Qingyang Clan, she must stay here and guard it herself. No matter what she wants to use us for, as long as Su Sheng safely returns to the capital and meets His Majesty to plead guilty, it will earn the Fourth Prince a merit. We will not lose out.”

This was just a minor episode. Xu Zhian did not intend to reveal anything about the Princess’ emotions. After briefly explaining to his disciple, he climbed into the carriage and issued the order to depart.

As the convoy gradually left the post station, a woman galloped past them on horseback.

The horse’s hooves kicked up billowing dust. Before the woman entered the post station, the Princess, who had been watching from upstairs for a while, smiled and spoke.

“Look, she is here. For you.”

Author’s Note:

It’s sunny everywhere, it’s too dangerous outside, friends, you must take care and protect yourselves! Wear the mask securely!

The end is not far away, let’s take advantage of this 100th chapter to send some little red envelopes to the little cuties who left messages in this chapter, let me know which familiar sisters have been waiting until now