Chapter 21 – Travis Translations

Xie er laoye glanced around the room 

Xie shi was discontented. “Does er ge not trust me? I already told you that my courtyard is guarded like an iron barrel. No one dares to speak irresponsibly.” 

Xie er laoye smiled. “It’s better to extremely cautious about a matter of this importance. Are all your maidservants and pozi trustworthy?” 

Xie shi snorted, not speaking. 

Xie er laoye laughed embarrassedly. “Meimei, please forgive me. It’s the matter of his highness, so I have no choice but to be careful. Da ge instructed meimei to get in touch with Zhengxi General, Lu hou, Pei Ren.” 

Xie shi’s complexion changed drastically. “Are you joking? I am a mere woman. How can I get in touch with Lu hou? If my husband knows of this, doesn’t er ge understand the consequences? You and da ge clearly want to cause trouble for me.” 

The Zhengxi army was stationed a hundred miles away and Lu hou Pei Ren resided in the barracks all year round. 

However, Jinzhou also had a general’s fu. Lu hou Pei Ren resided in the general’s fu occasionally for a few days to handle some official business. 

Xie er laoye hurriedly said, “Meimei misunderstood. How could da ge and I want to harm you? Doesn’t meimei still now know that Lu hou’s family is in the barracks right now?” 

“How is that possible?” 

Xie shi wasn’t convinced. Xie er laoye lowered his voice and said, “The one in the palace intended to bestow a marriage to Lu hou’s daughter. But suddenly, this Pei guniang fell ill and couldn’t get married.  

In fact, Pei guniang dressed in men’s clothes, pretending to be Pei jia‘s eldest son and secretly ran out of the capital to the barracks. She has been in the northwest for three or four months now.”  

Xie shi turned pale with fright. “How did er ge come to know of such a secret matter?” 

“Da ge told me about all this. The crown prince has planted a spy in Lu hou fu and so, we came to know of the inside story.” 

Xie shi frowned. It seemed that the crown prince had planted a spy not just in Lu hou fu but also beside the Lu hou. It was because of this that he knew so much so clearly. 

Xie shi asked, “Why does his highness want us to get in touch with the Lu hou?” 

Xie er laoye said quietly, “Since Zhen guogong passed away, his highness lost his assistance from the military. His highness values letters and belittles the arms and so, all the generals are opposed to him in private.  

“Now that her majesty the empress is seriously ill, if the worst happens, his highness will be in a dangerous position. So his highness has to now rope in support from the army. When there is a change in the capital, he can turn over from a desperate situation.” 

Zhen guogong was the crown prince’s maternal uncle and a general trusted by the emperor. That year, with Zhen guogong‘s powerful advocacy, the di son, Liu Xian was smoothly conferred the crown prince’s title.  

In those years, no matter how many mistakes the crown prince made provoking the emperor’s dislike, Zhen guogong was able to pull strongly against crazy tides and protect the crown prince from falling. 

But eight years ago, Zhen guogong passed away and the crown prince’s situation immediately changed for the worse.  

If her majesty also passed away, one could only imagine how dangerous the crown prince’s position would become.  

There were numerous people in the capital rubbing fists and wiping palms, eager to get rid of the crown prince.  

Xie shi’s face turned pale. “Does the crown prince want to rebel?”  

“Shh! Meimei, don’t talk nonsense! The crown prince merely wants the military’s support to intimidate some villains at the critical juncture so that they don’t have any extra thoughts.” 

Xie er laoye nervously said, running to the window to look outside. When he was sure that no one was eavesdropping, he relaxed, exhaling.  

Xie shi sat back on the chair, paralysed. “Da ge wants me to rope in Lu hou? Humph! He really wants to make things difficult for me! If I’m not mistaken, Lu hou has no relationship with his highness. How do you want me to gain his support?” 

Xie er laoye said softly, “Lu hou is very utilitarian unlike other generals who oppose the crown prince. If we give him enough benefits, we can definitely tempt him.” 

Xie shi laughed coldly. “Did da ge say all this?” 

Xie er laoye nodded. “Meimei, relax. Da ge will not make things difficult for you. This matter is less about roping in Lu hou and more about making him a relative by marriage.” 

Xie shi was puzzled.  

Xie er laoye said at once, “Lu hou‘s two di children haven’t married yet. Taking advantage of the person in the northwest, the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first. Meimei must build a relationship with the people in the general’s fu and think of a way to arrange a marriage for your two families’ children.” 

Xie shi stared at Xie er laoye. “Is that it?” 

Xie er laoye nodded. “It’s just this matter. For other things, da ge has his own plans. Meimei doesn’t need to worry about them.” 

Xie shi snorted coldly. “It’s easy to talk about setting a marriage with Lu hou fu.” 

Xie er laoye laughed. “Everyone thinks so. But once the raw rice is cooked, there’s no worry about not becoming relatives by marriage.” 

“Is er ge trying to harm Yue’er? Yue’er is your own niece.” Xie shi was very dissatisfied.  

Xie er laoye smiled. “Meimei misunderstood. Apart from Yue’er, isn’t there Gu Cheng? Gu Cheng won’t be wronged marrying Pei’s eldest daughter.” 

Xie shi frowned, considering this. Xie er laoye continued to persuade, “Meimei, do you really want to give up such a rare opportunity? As long as you decide, when the moment comes, someone will naturally assist you in the dark, making your wishes come true.” 

Xie shi looked at Xie er laoye with a smile that wasn’t like a smile. “Assist me in the dark?” 

Xie er laoye repeatedly nodded. Xie shi snorted lightly. “Does er ge think that I will casually decide liu lang’s lifelong event? Er ge should also give me some time to consider this matter.” 

“Then meimei should slowly think this over. I will stay in your fu in the meantime.” 

Xie shi said, “My husband doesn’t have any dealings with Lu hou. If I want to establish a relationship with Lu hou and let the children interact with each other, it won’t be easy.” 

Xie er laoye laughed. Listening to her words, he knew that his sister was tempted.  

If Lu hou helped the crown prince ascend the throne, he would be the most meritorious minister in the new reign.  

Marrying his daughter was definitely making a profit. With his sister’s calculating nature, it was impossible for her to stand by and let this opportunity pass. 

Xie er laoye gave Xie shi an idea. “I heard that the magistrate’s furen is a distant relative of Lu hou. If meimei has a good relationship with her, you can try to cast a line at Lu hou fu through her.” 

Xie shi frowned. “If I help da ge, how will I benefit?” 

“Does meimei dislike the benefits that come from Gu Cheng marrying Pei’s eldest daughter?” 

Xie shi sneered. “Of course it’s not enough! The children are growing up so fast that more money is required for their various affairs. Just liu lang’s betrothal gift will be worth twenty or thirty thousand taels. Without my brothers’ help, I don’t dare to reach for Lu hou‘s daughter.” 

Xie er laoye suddenly felt his tooth ache. He knew that his sister was shrewd and difficult to deal with. It was impossible to move her without enough benefits.  

“Isn’t twenty or thirty thousand taels too much?” 

Xie shi said with a smile that wasn’t a smile, “Er ge, don’t tell me that you can’t take out twenty or thirty thousand taels. These years, er ge has worked hard for the east palace and must have made several illegal profits on the side.” 

Xie er laoye ground his teeth. “Twenty thousand taels!” 

Xie shi laughed lightly, lifting her tea cup, as if ready to see him out.  

Xie er laoye expression distorted. “Twenty five thousand taels. It can’t exceed that. Adding the five thousand taels I gave you earlier, you can put together thirty thousand taels, enough for Gu Cheng’s betrothal gift.” 

Xie shi put down her tea cup and smiled like a flower. “Many thanks, er ge, for your generous contribution. When liu lang gets married, er ge must come to drink the wedding wine.” 

Xie er laoye’s expression was ugly. Twenty-five thousand taels was cutting a piece of his flesh, a! 

Xie shi continued. “In addition to this, there’s another matter I need to bother er ge with.” 

“Meimei, please speak.” 

Xie shi snorted, her expression resentful. “Su shi isn’t peaceful even after dying, leaving behind a pair of children. They are thorns in my side, especially that Gu Jiu.” 

Xie er laoye chuckled. “Just a little girl. Make arrangements for her to go out. Meimei doesn’t have to get angry.” 

Xie shi smiled. “Just as er ge said, if I send her out, I can also live peaceful days. It’s just that it isn’t easy to find an appropriate household which can satisfy my husband.” 

“What does meimei want to do?” 

Xie shi pursed her lips and smiled. “I see that Xie Xian, this child, is quite good. If Xie Xian marries Gu Jiu, with my own siblings as her in-laws, it’s good to set this relationship. With Xie jia‘s background, I don’t think my husband will object. Is er ge willing?”