jdhmnovel Chapter 217 The fake pomegranate is about to burst
Chapter 217 The fake pomegranate is about to burst
Gu Zhanghua took Zhao Xuan's hand and introduced her to Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu.
"Teacher, Master's Wife, she is the virtuous princess Tian Shiliu.
My husband and I haven't had time to visit you, so I hope the teacher and his wife won't blame us."
Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu had already decided to pretend that they knew nothing. They saluted Zhao Xuan.
"Your humble servant greets the virtuous princess!"
Zhao Xuan bowed to the two of them.
"Meet the Prime Minister, Madam Prime Minister."
Gu Zhanghua invited everyone into the house to chat slowly, and the four of them sat down in the side hall.
Gu Zhanghua asked Yang Liuming.
"Teacher, Master's Wife, are you two here to discuss the gift for our visit to Yue Kingdom to visit relatives?"
Yang Liuming smiled slightly.
"Your Majesty has entrusted such an important matter to me for two reasons.
Firstly, to celebrate the accession of Emperor Yue to the throne, and secondly to demonstrate our Xia Kingdom’s love for Princess Xian, so it is extremely important for Princess Xian to return to her parents’ home to visit her relatives this time.
I, your humble servant, have come with my wife to visit the virtuous princess and ask her to help make decisions. I think it is easier to communicate with women.”
Jian Qiu looked at Zhao Xuan with a smile on his face.
"Princess, I know a little about your life story. I wonder what gifts you would like to bring back to your hometown?
If you have any close friends or relatives during your time in the palace, I can prepare generous gifts for them according to your request."
Zhao Xuan was upset. As soon as she arrived in Yue State and entered the palace, her identity might be exposed immediately. What was the point of bringing any valuable gifts?
She always thought she had firsthand information about Tian Shiliu, but in fact she knew very little about her.
If Tian Shang was just using her status as the virtuous princess to consolidate his power, it would be fine. Not only would he save her life, he might even treat her as a guest of honor.
She was afraid that Tian Shiliu and Tian Shang had an unusual relationship, and that Tian Shiliu would die in Xia State, indirectly at her hands.
She had been the virtuous princess consort for Tian Shiliu for such a long time. Would Emperor Tian Shang of Yue let her off so easily? Would he let Tian Shiliu die and be done with it?
Once she set foot in the territory of Yue State, there was no turning back. She couldn't imagine what kind of situation would be waiting for her.
Zhao Xuan looked grim and kept her head down without saying a word. She had no idea how to answer the Prime Minister's wife's question, and her mind was in a mess.
Seeing that Zhao Xuan was a little out of control, Gu Zhanghua knew that she must still be worried about going to Yue State.
He also noticed that the teacher and his wife were looking at Zhao Xuan back and forth, and the atmosphere became a little awkward for a moment.
Gu Zhanghua hurriedly spoke up to help Zhao Xuan out.
"Teacher, Master's Wife, the princess is about to return to her homeland. This is too sudden for her, and I can't express how happy or excited she is.
She grew up in the Ye Ting and suffered torture and hardship. Yue State was a sad place for her. She is still a little dazed now.
You guys can prepare the gifts as you see fit. As long as the Yue court can't find fault with them, we have no objection."
Zhao Xuan forced a smile.
"Please trouble the Prime Minister and his wife to make the decision for us."
Jian Qiu looked at Zhao Xuan with a warm smile, and the words he said were actually a test.
"I see that the princess looks unhappy, is there something bothering her?
My wife and I have always been close to His Royal Highness, the Wise King. Why don't you tell us about it and see if we can help you with some advice? "
Zhao Xuan waved her hands hastily to make excuses.
"I don't have any worries. I just think that I won't know many people back home, and I'll have to travel a long way. It's very tiring!"
Yang Liuming seized the opportunity and asked Zhao Xuan.
“I wonder what kind of past the princess had with Emperor Tian Shang of Yue?
When Tian Shang ascended the throne, he immediately wanted to summon you back to the country. You two siblings must have a very good relationship, right? "
Zhao Xuan didn't know how to answer. The Yue delegation never mentioned the relationship between Tian Shang and Tian Shiliu at all. There were only two possibilities.
First, the members of the delegation did not know about it, which meant that Tian Shang and Tian Shiliu were probably communicating privately and had a good relationship.
Or there is no intersection between the two at all.
Secondly, the members of the delegation knew that the relationship between the two was not good, so there was no need to mention it, and Tian Shang was just an insignificant ninth prince at that time.
What should she say?
Gu Zhanghua saw Zhao Xuan's dilemma and helped her out again.
“Not good, not bad, just average. Now that Shi Liu has become the virtuous princess, she has some weight in the eyes of the Yue Emperor.
This time we are going to the Kingdom of Yue together, and we will definitely establish a good relationship with Tian Shang."
Yang Liuming looked at Gu Zhanghua.
"Your Highness, are you so sure? Tian Shang has been strategizing for many years. Once he rises to power, he will immediately eliminate Tian Yuan, who has been the crown prince for more than 20 years.
I feel that Tian Shang is very difficult to deal with. He is ruthless, decisive and ruthless, but he is also very smart.
Your Highness and Princess, please be careful. This time you are heading to the Kingdom of Yue and the journey is long and arduous!"
Gu Zhanghua knew that Yang Liuming's worries were justified, but he could no longer smile. He looked at Zhao Xuan and a look of anxiety appeared on his face.
Jian Qiu's words had hidden meaning, and she looked at Zhao Xuan.
"What the master said just now was a bit scary, but I actually think that Tian Shang was born to a concubine who had fallen out of favor, and the princess's mother was also not favored back then.
I guess Tian Shang and the princess share the same fate, so he might feel sympathetic towards her. I'm sure Tian Shang will take good care of her when she returns to her homeland!"
Zhao Xuan couldn't help but smile bitterly. The real Tian Shiliu might have received such treatment, but the fake one like her was in danger everywhere.
Gu Zhanghua sighed in his heart and forced a smile.
"Thanks to the care of the teacher and his wife, we will do our best."
Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu played the good cop and the bad cop respectively, repeatedly testing Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua. At this time, both of them had already made up their minds.
Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu looked at each other and said to Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua.
"Since the princess has no special requests, my husband and I will go back and prepare. We will then present a detailed gift list for your review."
After Yang Liuming finished speaking, he and Jian Qiu stood up and said goodbye.
After seeing the two off, Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan returned to their room, racking their brains for what to do.
Zhao Xuan asked Gu Zhanghua.
"How about I go to Yue State and meet Tian Shang privately and explain everything to him?"
Gu Zhanghua disagreed.
"My father's imperial decree has been issued, and the letter from the throne has also stated that I will accompany you to the Kingdom of Yue.
We must handle this matter impartially. You still want to settle it privately, which is simply impossible."
Gu Zhanghua finally made up his mind.
"Let me put it this way! Sister Xuan, you can't hide your true identity any longer."
Zhao Xuan had a bitter look on her face. She seemed to see her fake pomegranate slowly splitting in the middle, revealing the pomegranate seeds inside, which fell out bit by bit and finally shattered into pieces.
"I think so too. Truth will come to light sooner or later. Let's go to the palace and see Father and explain everything clearly!"
Zhao Xuan stood up and walked out of the study. Gu Zhanghua quickly grabbed Zhao Xuan's arm.
"There's no rush for the Emperor. Let's go to Prince Cheng's Mansion and talk to my second brother about everything. He'll help us come up with a plan!"
"Okay, I'll listen to you and let's go now!"
In the carriage heading to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu looked solemn.
Jian Qiu spoke first to Yang Liuming.
"Master, we can now confirm that Princess Xian Tian Shiliu is Zhao Xuan, the same Huang Huacai that Hu Yiba issued a killing order to hunt down."
Yang Liuming's eyes were deep.
“Madam is right, she looks exactly like the portrait.
No wonder His Royal Highness the Wise King was so concerned about the matter of Jiaoyang Valley. It seems he probably knew Zhao Xuan's identity long ago."