Chapter 238: Chapter 237 AlliancePrime Minister Xue, upon seeing this, spoke out, "If the Grand Tutor does not wish to get involved, then just pretend to be unaware."


    He fiddled with the walnut in his hand and after much deliberation, decided to stand with the Eldest Princess.


    Qi Wuya’s capabilities should not be underestimated. Allowing him to grow and strengthen would eventually threaten his interests.


    Qi Bingshuang, seeing that Prime Minister Xue also supported her, felt more confident and continued to persuade, "Qi Wuya is not taking action now because his wings are not yet full, he’s accumulating power. Once he holds real authority and strikes at us, it’ll be too late for us to beg for mercy at his feet."


    At this point, she looked towards Zheng Dingshan, her words tinged with sarcasm, "Grand Tutor, don’t forget, back when we were in the academy and the Ninth Prince was bullied, you, as Grand Tutor, didn’t stand up to speak a word of fairness."


    Zheng Dingshan choked, his old face turning red.


    Wasn’t that just a trivial matter of brothers fooling around?


    Qi Wuya shouldn’t still be dwelling on that, right?


    He was at a loss for words for a while before he finally squeezed out, "Enough. Have it your way."


    He saw that the three people present all intended to assist the Eldest Princess in her push against the Emperor, so he threw his robe and left.


    Fine.


    Let them meddle.


    If Qi Wuya can’t handle this trouble, then he had overestimated him.


    The path to being Emperor is for the capable.


    He did not support the incompetent!


    Watching Zheng Dingshan leave, Prime Minister Xue immediately changed his face, "Someone, go follow Grand Tutor Zheng."


    Since he had already chosen to ally with the Eldest Princess, he needed to quickly devise a strategy.


    Grand Tutor Zheng’s attitude was a risk.


    Qi Bingshuang observed Prime Minister Xue’s change, and was secretly startled: This old fox reacts even faster than her! However, this was good. Zheng Dingshan is old-fashioned, growing older and more timid by the day, he might just go to the palace and tip off Qi Wuya. Better to keep an eye on him.


    "Thank you, Prime Minister."


    Qi Bingshuang thanked Prime Minister Xue, then turned to Huo Dingyuan and bowed again, "Thank you, Father."


    Huo Dingyuan’s expression was subdued as he waved his hand, "No need for thanks. I’m only helping you for Ah Yue’s sake. When the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, my Ah Yue, having contributed to the state, deserves to be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and moved to the Imperial Mausoleum."


    His words were assertive, as he then challenged, "Eldest Princess, wouldn’t you agree?"


    Qi Bingshuang, "..."


    Her expression was subtle; this whimsical man, even bothering the dead!


    "Of course."


    She smiled lightly, concealing any dissatisfaction, "Father speaks rightly. Your daughter-in-law will remember this in her heart."


    Everyone exchanged glances, signifying the formation of a preliminary alliance.


    Qi Bingshuang then made her final decision, "Then, Father, Prime Minister, Governor Zhang, three days from now when the mourning period ends and all the officials convene, I too will attend court to report on the Crown Prince’s condition. At that time, I will rely on Father and the two gentlemen to coordinate from inside and outside."


    She had it figured out, the court assembly in three days would provide a perfect opportunity.


    "Most of the Imperial Army in the palace is under Commander Zhang Tai, with his assistance, nothing should go wrong."


    Qi Bingshuang felt a slight tremor in her hands hidden within her wide sleeves.


    She was exceedingly excited.


    Zhang Tai was Governor Zhang’s only legitimate son, Huo Dingyuan’s son-in-law, her big sister-in-law’s husband.


    He would definitely help them.


    "So, Father and the two gentlemen, just boldly bring the charges. When Commander Zhang intervenes, it will be time for him to confess and be executed!"


    The victors would write the accusations.


    Regardless of whether Qi Wuya committed patricide or fratricide, with military dominance, his demise was certain.


    Huo Dingyuan, Prime Minister Xue, and Governor Zhang all thought so.


    They again carefully reviewed their statements, discussed timing, and other considerations until dawn began to lighten the sky, and then left the Crown Prince Mansion.


    "The Princess must be tired."


    Bi He, the maid standing nearby, came over and offered her hand.


    Qi Bingshuang placed her hand on the back of hers and, supported by her, proceeded to the soft couch and sat down.


    "Princess, do you really intend to allow the Prince Consort to move into the Imperial Mausoleum?"


    Bi He asked softly.


    She had just heard the Princess agree and had almost exclaimed in shock.


    Others might not know, but as her personal maid, she knew that the person who liked the Prince Consort the least in Beiqi was the Princess herself.


    Qi Bingshuang smiled lightly, her eyebrows raised, and she tapped Bi He’s forehead with her fingertip and chided, "You have been by my side for twenty years, how can you still be so foolish?"


    "I am but a simple servant, how can I compare to the Princess’s intelligence? Please don’t mock me, Your Highness."


    Bi He said with a smile, uttering flattering words that made Qi Bingshuang laugh again and again.


    But after a while, her expression changed.


    Just like her name, cold as frost, she said, "To help Guanglie ascend to the position of Crown Prince, I had no choice but to marry that useless Huo Yu. Every time I saw his face, I felt nauseated, and it was a mercy from Heaven that he died early."


    Disgust filled her eyes as she spoke those harsh, cold words: "That old fool Huo Dingyuan still traps me into remaining a widow for his son. Well, remaining a widow is one thing, but now he even wants to move his son into the Imperial Mausoleum, which is utterly ludicrous!"


    Once she succeeded in usurping the throne, she would kill Qi Wuya first.


    Once Guanglie awakened, she would charge Huo Dingyuan with the crime of treason and usurpation.


    Then in Beiqi, there would be no one left to restrain her and Guanglie.


    "Princess, calm your anger. It’s not worth getting upset over a dead man." sea??h thё N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bi He softly persuaded for a while, but seeing that her expression was still unhappy, she changed the topic: "Oh! Princess, it’s almost 5 a.m. It’s time for the Crown Prince to take his medicine."


    Hearing this, Qi Bingshuang glanced outside at the sky, nodded her head, and got up to prepare the medicine.


    She went to the small kitchen in Chengguang Garden, carefully checked the herbs, placed them in the pot, and simmered them for two hours. Then she brought the medicine to the Crown Prince and fed him personally.


    The medicine was very potent.


    It filled the room with a rich, bitter scent.


    Bi He, smelling it, frequently frowned, thinking about covering her nose.


    But Qi Bingshuang’s expression remained normal, her gaze full of tenderness and affection.


    She held the medicine bowl, looking at her younger brother lying unconscious and frail on the sickbed, her heart aching intensely.


    It had been so long.


    If he kept sleeping, his body would break down.


    "Guanglie, Guanglie—"


    She murmured her brother’s name, her pale fingers gently stroking his cheek.


    Qi Wuya’s eyes were tightly shut, showing no response.


    The process of feeding the medicine was very difficult.


    Bi He helped by gently prying open his mouth.


    She fed him spoon by spoon, the corners of his mouth occasionally leaking juice, flowing down his jaw into his neck.


    A sticky mess.


    After feeding him the medicine, she grabbed a handkerchief, soaked it in water, and wiped him down.


    She cleaned his neck and his fingers.


    As she wiped, she spoke to him: "Guanglie, wake up soon, your sister is about to reclaim everything that belongs to you."


    She finally cleaned his hands.


    Then she pressed his hand against her face, her eyes switching from the previous malevolence to being filled with tears, appearing immensely sorrowful.


    "Guanglie, your sister misses you so much."


    "Guanglie, please wake up soon."


    "Guanglie, Qi Wuya dares to take things from your hands, your sister will surely tear him to pieces!"


    "Guanglie, you must wake up soon, don’t make your sister wait too long, understand?"


    ...