Cui Yi grew angrier, "Whose side are you on?"
"The Crown Prince took your place with strength. If you defeat him and claim the throne, it will also be through strength," Bai Lizan raised his cup, "The throne belongs to the capable." Finishing his wine.
Cui Yi realized they were acting out this scene. If it were about expanding territory or defending the country, Cao and Yang would follow loyally. Rebellion, however, was different. Rather than forcing them to agree reluctantly or creating rifts, it was better to address their concerns directly.
Chi Ying explained, "Rather than rebellion, Your Highness is the legitimate heir. If you ever claim the throne, it will be through capability."
The concerns of everyone were laid out on the table. If they still weren't willing, then it was best to part ways and each pursue their own future. However, Houcheng's words weren't over yet. She continued slowly, "Since ancient times, the victors write history, and the defeated are forgotten. The Crown Prince is cunning and ruthless, smiling with a hidden dagger behind his back. He even guards against those close to him, and for the throne, he would kill his own father and unborn child. What good end could await those who do not support him? From the moment we pledged our allegiance to the King, we should have been prepared for the day when the Crown Prince might smear our names. To fight, there is at least a fifty percent chance of being remembered in history; not to fight means enduring eternal infamy."
These words cut off all retreat for everyone. Either press forward blindly, perhaps seeing the light one day, or wait to be remembered as villains for eternity. After she finished speaking, there was silence at the table for at least a breath. No one spoke.
"Does Your Majesty think my chances of winning are only fifty percent?" Cui Yi grumbled unhappily.
Houcheng smiled slightly, "It's not up to me to say, but rather the generals. In any case, I'm on the same boat as you, so even if your chances are zero, how far could I run?"
"You're right," Cao Qian replied, coming back to his senses. Raising his cup solemnly, he said, "Since the day I joined His Majesty, I swore in my heart that I would willingly give my life for him, fighting to the death on the battlefield. Whatever His Majesty asks of me, I will never refuse!"
Baili Zan chuckled, "Let's not talk about death. We follow His Majesty for glory and comfort in our later years. If we die, we gain nothing, and wouldn't we just be working for free?"
Cao Qian awkwardly "uh-ed," while Houcheng also laughed, "Absolutely, we need to live well and consider how we were driven out of the capital. How can we not avenge this humiliation?"
Everyone at the table couldn't help laughing, easing the previous tension. Cui Yi raised his cup again, and this time everyone drank.
As for how to deal with Xie Yuchan and explain it to the Xie family, Houcheng believed that since things had already come to a head, they might as well go all in. Xie Yuchan was already in Yanzhou as the Wu King's consort, and the Xie family couldn't turn back to support the Crown Prince. Even if their daughter was mistreated, they could only swallow their grievances. As Xiaoqiu put it, it was "the mother repaying her debt through her daughter."
But Baili Zan thought that after so many years of planning by Xie Xiao, he wouldn't give up because of a small setback. There had been precedents of daughters marrying into two different families. Given that Cui Jie still heavily relied on Changsun Tai, as long as Xie Xiao had more daughters to send to the palace, it couldn't be said that the Xie family was completely tied to the Wu King's ship. They still needed to be cautious.
"Even if Xie Xiao has other daughters, they aren't from his main wife, right? Would he sacrifice his main daughter to let a concubine's daughter enter the palace as an imperial consort?" Houcheng doubted. After all, they hadn't seen the second Miss Xie on the day they arrived in Xuanzhou. If Xie Yuchan had a full sister, their relationship should have been close, and she would surely have come to greet them. "Even if he's willing, Lady Ye wouldn't agree."
Xiaoqiu muttered angrily, "That scorpion-hearted witch! I'll make a voodoo doll to curse her!"
Cui Yi suddenly said, "Lady Ye... wouldn't agree. The Zongzheng Temple wouldn't approve either. To enter the palace as a consort, one must be a legitimate daughter. But becoming the king's consort isn't necessarily so strict."
Everyone was stunned for a moment. Yang Qiong reacted first, "Your Majesty means the Seventh King?"
Houcheng realized—right, Cui Jie wasn't the Xie family's only fallback. There was also the Seventh King, Cui Xiang! Cui Xiang was born to Consort Duan and was related to the Xie family. If Cui Yi wasn't reliable, the Xie family might very well lean towards Consort Duan and Cui Xiang.
How could they forget this? Last year, they had considered pushing Xie Yuchan onto Consort Duan, but now they had forgotten about this competitor.
Baili Zan sighed, "It seems that what Lady said left an indelible impression on Master Yang."
Yang Qiong blushed and waved his hands, "No, no, I just happened to think of it."
Houcheng couldn't help laughing, "Master Yang, don't worry. You're not the first to 'almost achieve merit.' When Mr. Cheng wanted to marry off his daughter to win over the King, we also considered General Cao."
"What?" Cao Qian choked on his drink, coughing violently.
Yang Qiong's expression changed, "Mr. Cheng refers to..." "Chancellor Cheng Hu," Cui Yi recalled, still somewhat disgruntled. "You two guessed wrongly. I almost lost face in front of Mr. Cheng."
Baili Zan smiled, "This is the benefit of being a strategist. You don't have to worry about being sold out by your master, and if you accidentally sell out your master, you don't have to worry either."
Houcheng pretended to be serious, "Your Majesty, during your absence, Mr. Baili worked hard. Why not find him a matchmaker in Yanzhou to find a suitable bride? Maybe we'll get to eat better meat next time." Baili Zan immediately cried out, "Mercy, Lady! Such matters should be done in order. If there are noble ladies available, General Cao should be first."
Cao Qian nearly spat out his drink again, hurriedly wiping his mouth, "No, no! I'm just a rough man, unfit for noble ladies. Brother Yang is more suitable, fitting in terms of status. Brother Yang should go first!"
Yang Qiong looked dazed, seemingly deep in thought, not hearing them. Houcheng took the opportunity to wrap up, "We won't talk about achievements for now. Does anyone have a better idea on how to handle Miss Xie?"
Everyone at the table pondered silently. After a while, Nongyue spoke up, "Your Majesty, Lady, I have an idea."
"Let's hear it."
"Since we shouldn't completely fall out with the Xie family, why not use the same tactic they used on Lady? We can spread rumors about her, giving us a reason to deal with her."
Nongyue, though lowborn and uneducated, knew how to manipulate others from her experience in the palace. Seeing everyone listening attentively, she elaborated, "Mr. Baili said the Consort went out with His Majesty. Now His Majesty has returned with Lady, but the Consort hasn't. It looks like she got lost. A few days later, when she returns, dressed poorly and injured, looking as if she's been assaulted, we can bribe a doctor to claim she's gone mad. Then we can lock her up legitimately, avenging ourselves without falling out with the Xie family."
Baili Zan's eyes lit up, clapping his hands, "Good plan. His Majesty rushed to find Lady upon hearing she was found. The Consort, enraged, ignored our warnings and chased after him. Along the way, she encountered bandits, suffered abuse, barely escaped, and returned to the palace. Now she's plagued by nightmares, unable to bear strangers, otherwise, she goes mad. His Majesty, helpless, had to let her stay alone in a small courtyard to recover. This way, we satisfy our revenge without breaking ties with the Xie family."
Xiaoqiu, eager to see Xie Yuchan suffer, cheered, "Exactly, let's do it! Don't take the beating away from me. That harridan bullied my lady repeatedly. I need to slap her a hundred times to vent my anger!"
Cui Yi didn't understand such intricate plots, but as long as he didn't have to see Xie Yuchan's ugly face, he was fine. Just as he was about to nod, Houcheng hesitated, "The plan is good, but girls value their reputation..."
"Don't feel sympathy for such people," Cao Qian angrily said. "When Lady wasn't around, that shrew said much worse things. Even if she really suffered abuse, it's her karma."
Houcheng nodded, "Alright, if everyone agrees, let's proceed."
The next morning, Xiaoqiu and Nongyue were eager, waiting for Houcheng's command to deal with Xie Yuchan. Houcheng sat before a mirror, exasperated, "You two are ridiculous. Why are you more excited about hitting people than any man? Especially you, Xiaoqiu, stop jumping around. Didn't I teach you to be dignified?"
"Dignified? I only know revenge. Isn't that right, Miss?" Xiaoqiu was playing with Little Cuixian, who was giggling happily after a meal.
Houcheng placed the jade hairpin, picked up her daughter, "Alright, alright, go ahead. Remember, don't hit too hard. Killing her would be troublesome."
Xiaoqiu darted out like a sparrow, "Don't worry, I'll be careful."
According to Baili Zan, since the Consort was supposedly captured by bandits, her injuries should be mostly bruises and slaps. Xiaoqiu originally planned to do it herself, leaving Xie Yuchan bruised, but that would look like a woman's work. So, they decided to hire two rough men to do the job, with Xiaoqiu supervising and reporting back to Houcheng.
Houcheng wasn't idle either. Since Xie Yuchan was out of the picture, the maidservants sent by the Xie family needed to be dealt with. Nongyue, experienced in disciplining palace maids, took charge.
Three rows of maidservants stood nervously in the courtyard. Houcheng sat in the middle, signaling Nongyue, who stepped forward, sternly ordering, "Raise your heads!"
The maidservants timidly lifted their heads, unsure of what they had done wrong.
Houcheng felt powerless. Lady Ye had spared no effort to ensure her words didn't come true. Where did she find so many unattractive maids?
"You are all servants of the Wu King's household. Though the Xie family sent you here, it is the King and Lady who provide your food, shelter, and wages. Who is your true master?" Nongyue walked among them, pointing at one maid, "Who is your master?"
The maid stammered, "His Majesty and... Consort..."
Nongyue sneered, "Consort? What has the Consort given you? Did she make you leave your homes, become lonely, punish you for minor mistakes, or make you kneel in the courtyard? Do you enjoy being punished?"
The maidservants panicked, kneeling and crying, "Forgive us! Lady is our true master!"
Houcheng calmly ordered, "Stand up."
They hesitantly rose, heads bowed, awaiting further instructions.
"You are poor girls, far from home, in this remote place. I shouldn't punish you," Houcheng scanned their fearful faces, "but you betrayed us, spying for the Xie family while taking wages from the King. What did the Xie family promise you?"
After a long pause, one maid trembled, "Lady Ye threatened to imprison my father if I didn't comply..."
Houcheng sighed softly, "Why did Lady Ye send you here?"