Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 258 What did you do to my brother?

When Xuyuan went back, it was already very late, but Wu Shiming still hadn't returned.

She read by lamplight for a long time until she felt sleepy and fell asleep.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, Wu Ji opened all the shops in the city, big and small.

Overnight, Wu Shiming became a popular businessman, and many businessmen came to him to seek a meeting.

Merchants value profit, and the reason they serve Wu Shiming is not just because Wu Shiming has a wealthy family.

There is another important reason: connections.

Without connections, it’s not difficult to open a shop in the capital.

But if there are so many shops, there must be high-ranking officials backing them up.

Those merchants apparently wanted to please Wu Shiming, but in fact they wanted to know who was behind Wu Shiming.

However, Xuyuan knew nothing about these.

The first thing she does every morning when she wakes up is to review her lessons.

After dinner, I continued to review my lessons until Ge Shuxing came over in the evening.

Ge Shuxing will send the money over to make a wish.

On the one hand, it is to verify the bill, and on the other hand, it is to express one's thoughts.

So, there is one more thing to do in the daily task of making a wish.

Every day, along with the account books, there was also a secret letter from Prince Cheng’s Palace.

The general content of the letter is all about the latest happenings in the capital.

For example, on the day she was assassinated and put on trial in the Dali Temple, the Song family pushed a few bandits out to take the blame.

Xu Yuan had guessed it long ago and didn't care much about it, but today's envelope was particularly different.

When Chen Shan handed it to her, he also specifically instructed: "Third Master has instructed that it must be burned after reading."

Seeing such seriousness in his expression, Xu Yuan’s curiosity was immediately aroused.

After she opened the letter impatiently, her heart sank when she saw its contents.

After burning the letter, she opened the door and went out, wanting to go to the Prince's Mansion, but then she felt it was not a good idea. After going back and forth several times, she returned to the house.

At the same time, outside the courtyard gate, the carriage slowly stopped.

Cheng Huan got off the carriage holding the wooden box and ordered someone to knock on the door.

A knock on the door interrupted Xuyuan's thoughts.

She came back to her senses and opened the door. When she saw Cheng Huan, she smiled and said, "Master Cheng Huan, why are you here?"

"His Highness said that the school will start in Wenhua Palace tomorrow, so he specially asked me to deliver the four treasures of the study to prevent Master Xu from being looked down upon."

Cheng Huan waved his hand, and several maids came in one after another and put the books and stationery in one by one.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is thoughtful." Xu Yuan nodded.

"That's right. Your Highness has never cared so much about someone before."

After Cheng Huan finished speaking, he smiled amiably and said, "Your Highness has another matter. Please ask Master Xu to go to the Crown Prince's Mansion to discuss it."

Xu Yuan thought about what was written in the letter and nodded, "Okay."

-

The Prince’s Mansion is full of green plants.

Cheng Huan took Xu Yuan directly to the study, and then left behind with the door closed.

Bei Yuan was playing chess. When he heard the noise, he said without even looking up, "You're just in time. Come over and play a game."

"Yes."

After making the wish and getting it fulfilled, he sat opposite Bei Yuan.

On the chessboard, one black and one white are fighting fiercely.

It was not until half an hour had passed that the winner was determined.

Bei Yuan did not take his eyes off the chessboard. He put down the black piece and said, "You are indeed different from others. I am not a good chess player, but I love this game. Others always give in to me and let me win because of my status. But you are different. From the beginning to the end, you killed me without leaving a single piece of my armor."

Xu Yuan put down the chess piece, stood up and said: "Please forgive me, Prince. I am upright and don't want to pretend. If you are not happy, I will admit defeat next time."

Xu Yuan had no idea whether the Northern Yuan Dynasty wanted to win or lose.

But she understood that Bei Yuan valued her talent. If she was like everyone else and even had to give in to Bei Yuan in a game of chess, Bei Yuan would treat her the same as everyone else.

Sometimes, one just needs to do the opposite.

"Hahaha, I really like your personality. This is the so-called relationship between a monarch and his subjects. I would like to ask, is there any wise monarch in the world who doesn't have a minister who dares to give direct advice?"

Bei Yuan stood up, patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder, asked Xu Yuan to sit down, then went to the desk, took out a wooden box and handed it to Xu Yuan.

"I came to you today because I have something to discuss with you. Let's take a look first."

Xu Yuan gently opened it, and after seeing the objects inside, he quickly closed it again.

This is a military token.

Bei Yuan saw Xu Yuan's reaction. Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but smile and said, "I'm just showing it to you. I'm not giving it to you. There's no need to make a fuss."

Xu Yuan calmed himself down and asked, "What's going on, Prince?"

"I went out of town yesterday for a spring outing and happened to see Miss Song being chased. I rode my horse to catch up with the criminal and killed him, but I lost contact with the servant from the Prince's Mansion. The road outside the city is far and it was dark so I couldn't travel any further, so I had to stay out all night."

Make a wish and clasp your hands tightly.

She had heard this play many times.

Bei Yuan said in an annoyed tone, "If I hadn't lost my way, Miss Song would not have had to stay in the wild for a night. Therefore, when the Song family's soldiers and the guards of the Crown Prince's Mansion found me today, I immediately asked the Crown Princess to go to the Song Mansion to propose marriage. After all, she is the legitimate daughter of the Song family, and she cannot lose her reputation because of this."

Xu Yuan's lips twitched slightly, not wanting to argue with the prince any more, he said bluntly: "What exactly does the prince want to say?"

"Song Xiujing will soon marry into the Crown Prince's Mansion. The Song family is no longer useful. I want you to get rid of the Song family as soon as possible. By then, your brother will be the number one general in Tianqi."

Xu Yuan lowered his eyes and his voice became colder: "The prince thinks too highly of Xu Yuan."

Bei Yuan tapped the table lightly, looking at Xu Yuan with a smile in his eyes: "But I know you can do it."

Xu Yuan shook his head slowly: "Wei Chenyi was imprisoned because of checks and balances from many parties. How can a weak scholar like me overthrow the Grand Commandant who holds a large number of troops?"

"I don't care how to overthrow you. If you need me, just ask me. I only have one request, and that is military power."

Bei Yuan looked at Xu Yuan, and seeing that Xu Yuan still showed no signs of giving in, his eyes became sharp.

He once thought that making a wish was a noble and sensible thing to do.

But tonight, it seemed that he guessed wrong.

"The prince wants to accomplish this. There are so many people who can do it. Why must it be me?"

"Because you are the beneficiary. Without the Song family, your brother's career will be able to rise to prominence, right?"

Bei Yuan looked at Xu Yuan, his smile gradually fading: "I might as well tell you that as long as the military power in the hands of the Song family changes hands, the world will also change hands. If you have made great contributions to the emperor, you will naturally be granted a title of nobility and appointed as prime minister. But if you don't have it, I don't mind looking for someone else. But I always think that Xu Qing is smart and can be the emperor's teacher."

Bei Yuan spoke the last few words in a very low voice.

When making a wish, I suddenly felt a chill.

She had always known that Bei Yuan had this idea, but Bei Yuan had never revealed it.

There are only three reasons why I can tell her today.

First, it was almost done.

Second, the Northern Yuan Dynasty regarded her as an ally.

Third, Bei Yuan was certain that she would do as she was told and would not disclose the matter.

and so……

Xu Yuan stood up suddenly, looked at Bei Yuan, and asked, "What did you do to my brother?"