Chapter 115

Mrs. Meng’s face sank at the words.

“Xue’er, you are impulsive and reckless, unaware of the severity of situations. If you continue to stay in the capital, you will inevitably cause trouble! If you end up implicating the entire Meng family, your father won’t spare you!”

Meng Guxue couldn’t accept it. She still had so many aspirations to fulfill, her mind filled with modern knowledge. She had to achieve something significant!

Seeing Meng Guxue persistently unyielding, Mrs. Meng stood up in anger.

“Xue’er, whether you like it or not, I will write to your aunt soon. Get ready.”

With that, Mrs. Meng left the room with a cold face, though there was a hint of sorrow on her face as she turned away.

Her husband was already dissatisfied with Xue’er’s disobedience.

He was heartless. With Xue’er gaining some fame now, if he easily betrothed her for his official career, it would be too late for regret!

Thinking of this, Mrs. Meng suppressed her last trace of softness and left the room decisively.

Meng Guxue sat dazedly on the edge of the bed, watching Mrs. Meng’s departing figure, gripping the quilt in her hands until the veins on the back of her hands bulged.

She would not leave the capital. She would fight, she would seize, she would become the top figure of this era!

“Xiao Tao!”

Xiao Tao hurriedly entered the room, her face full of anxiety.

“Miss?”

Meng Guxue suddenly stood up, her voice cold. “Prepare ink, paper, and inkstone!”

Xiao Tao was puzzled by this. “Miss, it’s too late now, and the candlelight is dim. Your eyes will be strained. Let’s practice tomorrow.”

Xiao Tao thought Meng Guxue wanted to practice calligraphy.

Meng Guxue’s face darkened. “Go quickly, I want it now!”

Seeing this, Xiao Tao dared not delay and hurriedly prepared everything. Meng Guxue picked up the brush and began writing.

One exquisite poem after another was stolen by her, slowly piled up into a stack.

Shen Lang, I’m placing my hopes on you. You must be like in my dreams, leading me to the end!

An hour later, Meng Guxue put down the brush, exhausted, and rubbed her wrist.

“Xiao Tao, I have a very important task for you. Take these papers to the back door, wait patiently, and someone will come to collect them.”

Xiao Tao’s heart jumped when she heard this. “Miss, this… these are your handwriting. It’s not good to give them to others casually. If something happens, then…”

Meng Guxue had already made up her mind and insisted, “Xiao Tao, I have my considerations. I told you to go, so go.”

Seeing the darkening sky outside, Xiao Tao said with difficulty, “But, Miss, it’s late now, and the back door has already been locked.”

Meng Guxue was taken aback, realizing she hadn’t noticed this.

“Forget it. Tomorrow morning, you go for me. Xiao Tao, if you do this for me, I won’t treat you unfairly.”

Early the next morning, Xiao Tao went to the back door stealthily, holding a small bundle in her arms, looking bulging.

She deliberately avoided the sweeping maid and nervously approached the door.

After standing for a while, a man wearing a veil suddenly approached silently.

“Are you Miss Meng’s person?”

The deep voice frightened Xiao Tao to the point her legs went weak.

“Y-yes…”

The man reached out his hand. “Is this the poems? Give it to me.”

Seeing that the man matched her words, Xiao Tao quickly threw the bundle in her arms to him and ran away in a hurry.

She was pale with fright, almost stumbling.

Miss… Miss gave the poems to an outsider, what… what should we do now?!

The man hurriedly reached out to catch the bundle. As he lifted his veil slightly, a handsome face was revealed – it was the subordinate of the Second Prince, Zhe Feng!

He immediately opened the bundle, quickly glanced at a few pieces, and finally a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He had to hurry back to report to His Highness!

The residence of the Zongren.

Taking advantage of the lunchtime delivery, a parcel discreetly found its way into the hands of the Second Prince.

As he carefully examined each poem and verse, a glint of admiration finally flickered in his eyes.

“These poems are truly exquisite. I didn’t expect her to possess such genuine talent.”

“With this, everything is in place. It’s time to set the plan in motion…”

“Zhou Bo, have someone transcribe these, bind them into a book, and proceed according to the plan!”

Zhou Bo didn’t know what the Second Prince was up to, but seeing his confident demeanor, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

“Yes, I’ll attend to it immediately, Your Highness.”

—

In the Royal Place.

Under the witness of the Crown Prince, the West Prince officially accepted Tan Hanchi as his mentor.

Tan Hanchi spoke with sincerity, “Your Highness, after careful consideration these days, I’ve thought about how to arrange your studies.”

The West Prince promptly nodded obediently, “Whatever Master Tan decides is fine.”

The Crown Prince also held Tan Hanchi in high regard.

Not only for his literary talent but also for his insights into political matters, and especially because he had gained the approval of the Qiao family patriarch.

“Master Tan, today’s matter came suddenly, and I didn’t consult you beforehand. Please don’t take offense.”

Tan Hanchi, who had spent ten years studying diligently, had just turned twenty this year. It was not inappropriate for the Crown Prince to address him as “Master.”

Tan Hanchi shook his head at the remark, “Your Highness, it’s my honor to serve as the mentor for the West Prince.”

The Crown Prince knew of Tan Hanchi’s acquaintance with the Qiao family and thus took the initiative to say, “Later, I’ll take Little Xi to the Qiao residence to pay respects to our teacher. If Master Tan is free, you can join us.”

Tan Hanchi’s heart skipped a beat at the invitation, and he lowered his head slightly to conceal his joy.

He hadn’t spoken to Mr. Qiao and his two sons since that day when the drums of impending doom sounded.

Nor had he forgotten Miss Qiao, who had saved his life…

Tan Hanchi was truly grateful to the Qiao family for giving him a new lease on life.

“Your Highness, since the West Prince will be learning both academics and martial arts, I’ll just tag along to discuss the arrangement of his studies with Mr. Qiao.”

This reason was reasonable and plausible.

Even though Tan Hanchi knew the Crown Prince was a virtuous heir apparent, he didn’t want to expose his relationship with the Qiao family in front of him.

It was a way to protect the Qiao family and prevent any mistakes from occurring!

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement, smiling, “That’s excellent.”

Later, the Crown Prince and the West Prince rode in a carriage together, while Tan Hanchi followed on horseback. They made their way to the Qiao residence.

When Qiao Zhongguo returned home in the morning, he had already mentioned the West Prince’s intention to seek him as a mentor.

Qiao Jiaojiao was completely surprised by the news.

[“Goodness, he owes us his life, and now he’s latching onto our family? Is this the Crown Prince’s idea?”]

[Qiao Zhongguo raised an eyebrow, and indeed, Jiaojiao guessed right!]

[Jiaojiao clenched her fists slightly.]

[“The Crown Prince is really trying to pull us in!”]

[“As the future emperor, every move he makes is deliberate. He’s spreading his network, planning to completely win over our Qiao family!”]

[“Since Emperor Yong agreed, it seems he hasn’t considered passing the throne to the Second Prince yet.”]

[“Following yesterday’s incident, it seems the Crown Prince and the Second Prince have made their positions clear. They’re about to face off directly!”]

[“Although our Qiao family has been reciprocating the Crown Prince’s overtures, if this brutal battle ends up hurting us, that’s absolutely unacceptable!”]

In Jiaojiao’s eyes, everyone in the Qiao family was her lifeblood. She would never allow the tragedy from the original story to befall her family again!