However, Laneige continues to increase its stakes.
Si Xitong thought of Yelü Qiqi.
She said, "You want to keep Qiqi as a hostage in Tianjing?"
Xie Lanzhi coughed lightly: "I'm not such a heartless person. If Qiqi takes a liking to Qi Nian or some silly boy, why can't they become a family? But this is only a secondary method. There are other ways, but they are not what I need to think of. Someone has to be willing to push for it."
“The marriage alliance is indeed more beneficial than harmful,” Si Xitong said. “Now that things have come to this, the only option is to have Lord Li bring it up himself.”
Xie Lanzhi observed her expression and, seeing that she accepted it, breathed a sigh of relief: "Arranged marriages have always been something that women find objectionable. It's actually easier for me since Little Phoenix can accept it."
“Why can’t we accept it? Marriage is just one option. There’s no need to worry that Li Jun will come up with a way to protect our bargaining chips,” Si Xitong said.
The marriage alliance might not be needed at that time, and Lanzhi's mind was not on the marriage alliance.
Politics is ruthless and arises only when the time is right.
Regardless of the approach, the best choice must be made while setting aside emotional factors.
Si Xitong stepped forward to straighten her clothes, her fingertips touching something soft. She was startled: "Lanzhi, you're not wearing anything?"
"I just took it off. I want to wait until I feel refreshed before putting it back on, otherwise it's a bit stuffy," Xie Lanzhi said. "Oh, and there's one more thing."
Si Xitong quietly withdrew her hand: "I've dealt with most of the public opinion in Jiujin. But you agreed to establish Shangdu with Yifan. Have you considered how the Fourth Imperial Uncle will react to Qijin?"
She was indeed a smart person, knowing the chain reaction that started from one point.
Xie Lanzhi had taken all of this into consideration, which is why she told her about it.
“Si Lei will be very resentful. He will think that I am weakening Qi Jin. Once the news gets out, he will definitely take a rash action.” She had considered this step for the time being, but in the end, the matter still rested with Jiu Jin.
Si Xitong continued, "On the day I ascended the throne, none of my uncles made any statement, which shows they were not convinced of my authority. But Qinian is different."
Si Xinian's identity was indeed sensitive. Considering that he had been behaving well recently, Xie Lanzhi's eyes flashed with a cold light as she thought that others would also use this pawn.
She might as well uproot it first.
But Little Phoenix couldn't help but ask, "Qi Nian's style of doing things has always been direct, so I wonder what you're thinking?"
Si Xitong shook his head and said, "A man's ambition lies in all directions. He wants to make great strides and realize his ambitions, but there are too many things to worry about."
“If he can act like you, then I will no longer have to worry.”
Changing the subject, she added, "You've cleared away my obstacles; now I'll handle the rest myself."
If someone forces him to make a decision at this point, there's no guarantee he won't head down a dead end, just like during the Tianjing Incident.
Xie Lanzhi nodded. She wouldn't interfere in their siblings' affairs.
But the boy has to stay within the lines he's drawn; otherwise, it's not a matter between siblings anymore.
The Lanqi Palace in Tianjing became noisy when the masters of Lanzhang Palace were away.
Officials from Tianjing frequently entered the palace, which Si Qinian initially avoided, preferring instead to spend his time drinking tea and having fun with old friends—a clear case of neglecting his duties. Privately, aside from the old nobles of Tianjing who would occasionally address him as "Your Highness" or "Prince," the Xie family remained consistently cold towards Si Qinian.
At most, they would acknowledge that Si Xinian had married into a powerful family, but how could they kneel and address him as "Your Highness" when their own son had not yet ascended the throne?
Recently, while the marshal was away from Tianjing, people sent by the Eight Jin forces kept piling up in Lanqi Hall.
Si Xinian also changed from refusing to meet to accepting a meeting. The first person he met was Wu Chang, the Minister of War and a former official.
Wu Chang, now fixated on his former position as Minister of War, reluctantly entered the palace. He found Si Xinian and tearfully poured out the wishes of the former officials.
What a loyal subject, like a court lady in a royal decree!
Si Xinian responded indifferently: "Oh."
Wu Chang hadn't expected that after talking for so long, mourning the late emperor and hoping to evoke his emotions, Wu Chang would only receive a faint "oh" in response.
Wu Chang suddenly felt uncertain. Had the prince's two years of hardship completely worn down the royal family's spirit? But the princess was still so domineering in Jiu Jin, otherwise he wouldn't have switched allegiance to the new ruler because he disliked the new decree regarding the criminal record.
His new master is now Si Lei.
"Fourth Prince, have you forgotten how high hopes the late Emperor placed on you? Only you can fulfill the late Emperor's long-cherished wish."
Si Xinian said, "The late emperor once reprimanded me for being an incorrigible child and for falling into the hunter's trap. He never made me the crown prince until the day he died. I ask you, former Minister of War, now a commoner, where did the late emperor's high hopes for me come from?"
"It's just because the late emperor died and only I was left as his son, but I am not as good as my elder sister. The people of Jiujin also support my elder sister. I just don't know, Wuchang, where do you see my potential to become the ruler?"
Si Xinian picked up a plate of green pastries and placed it in front of him: "Could it be this plate of mung bean pastries? Xinian is going to have turtle soup for lunch."
Wu Chang: "......."
The green bean and the turtle made eye contact...
Wu Chang's face turned green; this wasn't a roundabout way of insulting him. And why was the prince even insulting himself?
"Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's grace and will never forget it!" Wu Chang said, bowing to him in the standard way of bowing to the Emperor.
Si Xinian immediately stood up and hid behind a pillar: "You're trying to get me killed."
Wu Chang turned around and kowtowed towards the pillar. Si Xinian then walked to the door and called Xie Bing to stand in front of him. Xie Bing looked bewildered and then received three kowtows from Wu Chang.
Wu Chang looked up and saw Si Xinian hiding next to Xie Bing. His face turned even paler, and he felt a surge of contempt. What a brat.
Si Xinian stood behind Xie Bing, still munching on a piece of mung bean cake.
"Have you finished praying?"
Wu Chang stood up and bowed to him with a loyal expression: "Please, Your Highness, reconsider."
Si Xinian said, "I wouldn't dare. Should I tell the guard in front of me that you want me to usurp Lord Xie's position, and what his reaction is?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Bing immediately drew his broadsword and said fiercely, "What? I kindly let you in to help His Highness relieve his boredom, and you actually want to rebel against Lord Xie?!"
Faced with the sword hanging over his head, Wu Chang's knees buckled and he knelt on the ground, stammering, "No, no, no, it's not me, I'm innocent, I'm innocent!"
"Since you've been wronged, why don't you get out of my palace?" Si Xinian gave Xie Bing a look, and Xie Bing grabbed Wu Chang and threw him out without him having to say anything.
After dealing with Wu Chang, the people who were lining up outside to catch up with old friends immediately lost half of their enthusiasm. Apart from some Tianjing officials who seemed to be on Si Xinian's side, they actually met with Si Xinian but then went to the Xie family to report on him.
Since the new decree came into effect, the Xie family has been well-behaved and obedient, which has made them more agreeable to the people of Tianjing.
As a result, many members of the Xie family made friends in Tianjing, and even the officials in Tianjing became more pleasing to the eye in front of the Xie family.
The fact that the officials of Tianjing were outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant was, in fact, a symbol of friendship to the Xie family.
The news that Si Xinian rejected Wu Chang and humiliated him with mung bean cakes and turtles immediately spread to the circle of old officials who wanted to support him, and those led by Wu Chang suffered a great blow.
How could the Fourth Prince have become such a good-for-nothing? It's a misfortune for the imperial family!
The news also reached Xie Lanzhi's ears. She was baking glutinous rice cakes at the government office when she heard what the boy was doing. She couldn't help but shake her head: "What former officials? They're just a bunch of good-for-nothings."
Who would bury their head in the sand like that? If it weren't for her orders, these people wouldn't even have been able to get into the palace.
Instead of reminiscing after entering the palace, they discussed the matter of taking over the throne. Leaving aside Si Xinian's ambition, even if he had one, he would never seek benefits at the expense of his own sister.
Si Xinian is currently in an awkward position, partly due to his status as a former official, but also because of his past connections. Furthermore, who exactly wants to put Si Xinian in the spotlight?
Xie Lanzhi quickly thought of a candidate: Si Lei.
Si Lei is adept at seizing opportunities and using others to do his dirty work.
She immediately put aside her airs, picked up the roasted glutinous rice cake with her chopsticks, cut it into small pieces, coated it with bean curd powder, and skewered it on a bamboo stick.
She carried the food into the courtroom and fed it to Si Xitong, who ate it while reviewing official documents.
Finally, when she turned to the official document about her younger brother, she paused: "Has so much happened to him recently?"
Seeing that she wasn't eating anymore, Xie Lanzhi finished the rest of the glutinous rice cake and then said, "I've thought about it, and it's time to settle on Qinian's identity."
Si Xitong suddenly lowered her head, making it impossible to see her expression, as if she had something else on her mind.
What do you think?
Si Xitong was not optimistic. Her tone was full of worry: "Jiujin is just a small part of the problem. It requires radical reform. Otherwise, it will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. This matter has not yet reached its peak, and even a quick fix will not be enough to resolve the mess."
The eight Jin states are the real parasites.
Chapter 55 The Useless Prince Has No Right
Since Wu Chang was thrown out, Lanqi Hall has become much quieter.
Si Xinian thought no one would look for him anymore, but in the middle of the night, he received a private message from his elder sister and a letter from his brother-in-law.
Si Xinian thought for a moment, then opened Xie Lanzhi's letter, which read: This matter started because of you, and it will end with you.
Is this a relaxation of restrictions on him?
He glanced at his elder sister's letter again: How could he withstand the sudden storm that came at night?
Si Xinian's eyes widened in surprise. He put away his elder sister's letter and began to feel agitated.
Is his sister questioning him?
This wind, seemingly blown up for him, but who ultimately benefits? Isn't it clear?
"Since my elder sister says so, I have no choice but to act quickly!"
They didn't want to push him into the limelight; there was no need. He can do it himself!
The following day, Si Xi began to lavishly entertain former officials, most of whom were down on their luck. He paid for their backyards and set up a restaurant where he would drink and converse with them all day long.
The Xie family thought that the marshal's brother-in-law would tone it down, but to their surprise, he was extremely arrogant and not only did not restrain himself, he also made a lot of money to invite people.
Those self-proclaimed former ministers, one by one, went along with the commotion, acting like good-for-nothings, spouting patriotic rhetoric while secretly extorting money to squander in brothels, treating Si Xinian like a sucker.
The Xie family, relying on their military strength, looked down on these kinds of shady dealings. Compared to Si Xinian's aloofness, they felt more at ease with Si Xinian's open-minded attitude.
But the money given as thanks... just flowed away like water.
Someone from the Xie family secretly sent a bill to Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi watched as the money flowed out, and in just a few days, she had spent nearly ten thousand taels of silver.
She said, "This guy really charges high prices for his services."
Upon hearing this, Si Xitong asked Jiu Jin's warehouse to replenish it for her.
Xie Lanzhi did the math: "Little Phoenix, what did you write that provoked that child?"
Si Xitong couldn't help but frown, but she didn't think she had written anything wrong. It was time for Xi Nian to confront her own problems.
She said, "I was just asking him. Knowing his personality, he must be overthinking it. I just hope he understands what I mean and will be more restrained in his actions."