SWNOVELXO Chapter 31: Nonsense
"In my opinion, sending away Miss Xie is acceptable, but Xie Yong must stay," Chengying pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness should be clear about rewards and punishments. Only then will the Xie family respect you. Sending away Miss Xie who caused trouble is reasonable, but Xie Yong did nothing wrong. If you expel him too, it would be like slapping the Xie family in the face. They might not support you anymore."
Cui Yi waved dismissively: "I never cared about the Xie family's so-called support. It's better to get rid of them all."
Chengying explained helplessly: "The Xie family is powerful in Xuancheng, wealthy beyond compare. Even if Your Highness doesn't need their support, the Crown Prince does. If you reject them outright, they might turn to the Crown Prince, and Consort Duan might change sides too. Then, Your Highness will be isolated and helpless."
"Even if Your Highness doesn't need the Xie family, don't hand them over to the Crown Prince. As long as you don't openly break ties, they will still hope for your favor and won't dare to ally with the Crown Prince. The longer you wait, the less likely they are to defect. Just bear with it for now, and you can weaken the Crown Prince's power. Why not do it?"
After a long explanation, Cui Yi was still unhappy: "But I can't swallow this humiliation!"
Chengying sighed and suggested: "Why not ask Master Bai Li and Young Master Yang for advice? My words aren't necessarily right."
Cui Yi nodded indifferently. Chengying then instructed the maidservant to summon Bai Li Zan and Yang Qiong.
Since Chengying was bedridden and improperly dressed, she asked the maid to lower the pearl curtain between the inner and outer rooms. Bai Li Zan and Yang Qiong stood outside to speak, ensuring privacy.
Bai Li Zan's opinion aligned with Chengying's: use the Xie family to control the Crown Prince's influence. However, regarding Xie Yuchan, he proposed another suggestion: "Since Consort Duan loves Miss Xie so much, why not send her to the palace or to the Seventh Prince? The Xie family wants a high marriage. Marrying her to the Seventh Prince would keep the benefits within the family."
Chengying nodded happily: "That's better. Your Highness and the Seventh Prince are on the same side. If Miss Xie marries the Seventh Prince, it's a win-win for the Xie family. Even if they can't rely on Your Highness, they can still count on the Seventh Prince. For us, as long as the Xie family doesn't support the Crown Prince, it's a success."
Yang Qiong looked uncomfortable and hesitantly spoke: "The Seventh Prince and Your Highness grew up together. Is it right to do this to the Seventh Prince?"
Knowing Yang Qiong's loyalty, Chengying and Bai Li Zan understood his concern, but Cui Yi didn't. He sneered: "So what if we grew up together? I grew up with the Crown Prince too, and look how many times he betrayed me." Yang Qiong wisely kept quiet.
Chengying turned and asked with a smile: "Young Master Yang, want to make a contribution?"
Yang Qiong was puzzled: "What do you need, Lady?"
Chengying teased: "Since Your Highness won't marry Miss Xie and doesn't want her to marry an enemy, giving her to the Seventh Prince seems unfair. So..."
"So?" Yang Qiong felt a bad premonition.
Bai Li Zan suppressed a laugh and continued: "So, Young Master Yang will have to sacrifice himself and marry Miss Xie. Oh, she probably won't agree, so you might need to... force the issue under the cover of night..."
Before he finished, Yang Qiong took three steps back in fright: "No, no! Absolutely not!"
Cui Yi glared: "Nonsense!"
Chengying laughed heartily, clutching her stomach: "Just joking. Don't take it seriously, Young Master Yang. Alright, let's send Miss Xie to Consort Duan and leave it to her. Just don't send her back. Agreed, Your Highness?"
Cui Yi grumbled: "Fine."
Bai Li Zan was dispatched to write a letter to Consort Duan, explaining that having unmarried men in the palace might damage Miss Xie's reputation and requesting alternative arrangements.
Consort Duan was furious upon reading the letter. She intended for Yue Nong to help Xie Yuchan secure a marriage with Cui Yi. Instead, Cui Yi wanted both Yue Nong and Xie Yuchan gone. Reluctantly, she agreed to take Xie Yuchan back.
When Xie Yuchan woke up, she found herself in Songya Palace. Consort Duan scolded her for causing trouble and harming Chengying. Xie Yuchan cried, fearing disfigurement and losing the Seventh Prince's love.
Consort Duan sighed, knowing Xie Yuchan's temper was her downfall. She promised to find a tutor to discipline her and warned her to behave or return to Xuancheng.
Xie Yuchan sobbed, feeling helpless. Her hatred towards Chengying deepened: "Chengying, I'll make you pay! I'll kill you and your child!"
After Xie Yuchan left, the Wu Palace became peaceful. Servants no longer feared retribution or extra work. Everyone seemed happier.
Xie Yong, however, remained worried. After hearing about his sister's accident, he wrote to his father, torn between staying loyal to Cui Yi or seeking other options.