Chapter 4

Chapter 4

In truth, I had a great task to attend to.

Wei Zhao was merely bait. With bait, the fish would naturally take the hook.

Soon enough, Chancellor Wei paid a visit to the Princess Manor.

I invited him inside.

Chancellor Wei possessed a dignified and imposing aura, sitting as still and solemn as a great Buddha with his eyes downcast.

He waited for me to speak, but I took my time finishing my meal with deliberate grace.

After eating, I washed my hands and meticulously applied the Jade Hand Cream bestowed upon me by my Empress Mother.

Only after a long silence did I speak. “Chancellor Wei, have we met before?”

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

A high-ranking chancellor of the imperial court would naturally have no reason to know Princess Chang’an, who had been living in cultivation at a temple.

However, as Ning Ze’s father, he had likely seen me.

Chancellor Wei clearly thought of this as well. He let out a long sigh and cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

“Thank you, Princess, for your generous assistance in protecting the Wei Family. Our family owes you a debt of gratitude.”

It was my turn to be surprised.

I hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily.

Chancellor Wei sighed hoarsely. “Your Highness’s guess is correct. This old official petitioned His Majesty three times for a marriage alliance, but the petitions were rejected by His Majesty every time.”

I nodded.

As the helmsman of the Wei Family, Chancellor Wei felt the approaching storm more clearly than anyone else.

He had attempted to use a marriage between Wei Zhao and Princess Kangle as a gesture of goodwill to appease my Imperial Father and stabilize his family’s position.

Unfortunately, once my Imperial Father set his mind on something, even my Empress Mother might not be able to change it.

In his desperation, Chancellor Wei had no choice but to abandon Wei Zhao as a lost cause, focusing his energy instead on grooming the Wei Family Eldest Brother and the Second Brother.

Though the eldest and second brothers were not well-known, their talents far surpassed Wei Zhao’s.

Poor Wei Zhao enjoyed immense fame as Huajing’s Top Noble Son, yet he had no idea this reputation was meticulously cultivated by his father.

It was all because he was born with a fine face-a face that caused Princess Kangle to fall in love at first sight.

With my Imperial Father refusing to grant the marriage, the Wei Family was teetering on the brink of ruin.

It was precisely at this moment that I appeared and chose Wei Zhao.

Wei Zhao went from being a discarded piece to a true pawn, yet he remained blissfully unaware.

Chancellor Wei bowed to me with genuine sincerity.

I accepted it calmly.

Finally, I asked him, “Was my meeting with Ning Ze part of your schemes?”

Chancellor Wei’s entire body jolted. He fell to his knees abruptly.

“This official is terrified; I would never dare.”

I looked down at him from my high vantage point. I could see no trace of a guilty conscience on his face.

I felt a slight sense of relief. Perhaps my meeting with Ning Ze truly was an accident.

Regardless, Ning Ze was dead, and he had died for me.

Even if Chancellor Wei had arranged it, I would still thank him for sending a ray of light into my cold and lonely childhood.

I took a jade pendant from my robe and tossed it to Chancellor Wei.

“Ah Ze’s pendant. Keep it as a memento, Chancellor Wei.”

I was reminding him not to forget Ah Ze.

Ah Ze only had him as kin. If he didn’t burn spirit money for Ah Ze, the boy would likely lead a destitute life in the underworld.

Chancellor Wei clutched the pendant tightly and tucked it away somberly.

Eventually, he said, “Perhaps this official should go and persuade Ah Zhao, telling him the truth about His Majesty rejecting the marriage.”

I smiled.

“Why tell him? Would he even believe it?”

“It is fine for him to hate This Princess. I have no feelings for him anyway.”

“If he were to pester This Princess constantly, I would find it quite tiresome.”

“The Chancellor knows his own son. When he is silent, he is as serene as a quiet flower. But if he starts talking, I fear This Princess won’t be able to keep up the act and might kill him with my own hands.”

Chancellor Wei was left speechless.