Prime Minister.

Chapter 33 033 [Together today]

A familiar feeling welled up in Xue Huai's heart.

When he first came into this world, a princess of high status made a similar threat to him.

Xue Huai understood that Jiang Li's threat was just a test, so he dealt with it with a joke at the time. However, the threat from the Prince of Dai was clearly not a joke.

He had no doubt that the Prince of Dai had the ability and determination to do so.

Knowing his threat had worked, the Prince of Dai said with a half-smile, "Editor Xue, why don't you reconsider? I greatly admire your character. There aren't many young officials as aloof and self-disciplined as you these days. I would very much like to make friends with you."

Xue Huai composed himself and said calmly, "Your Highness, I broke the rules as soon as I stepped into Taihu Tower today. I only came here because Chief Secretary Xu said he would provide clues. I did not expect that this would arouse Your Highness's murderous intent."

"Eh."

At this moment, the Prince of Dai changed his previous hostility and said leisurely, "Editor Xue, watch your words. I never intended to harm you. Don't make false accusations."

"I misspoke."

Xue Huai glanced at the two envelopes on the table and said firmly, "However, Your Highness's wise words reminded me that life is unpredictable, and no one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first. In that case, I should do my best to fulfill my duties so that I will have no regrets."

It wasn't that he didn't understand how to assess the situation, but the King of Dai simply didn't give him any choice.

Either be a dog, or wait for a violent death.

If the Prince of Dai hadn't been so ruthless, Xue Huai wouldn't have minded playing along.

Now that the other party is clearly trying to force Xue Huai to break off relations, how could he possibly restrain himself?

The Prince of Dai understood the unspoken meaning in the young scholar's words.

Since he wouldn't let it go, Xue Huai had no choice but to take a risky approach—the entanglement between the Ministry of Works and the Prince of Dai's mansion had already surfaced, and he would use Shen Wang's status as an imperial envoy to dig deeper. Either the Prince of Dai would choose to destroy him outright, or both sides would back down.

Prince Dai narrowed his eyes. He never expected that he would be put on a pedestal by a mere seventh-rank Hanlin scholar. Even ministers and vice ministers might not dare to do this—the important cabinet ministers were naturally not included.

"Are you really not afraid of death?"

The Prince of Dai gave a sinister smile, turned around and stood in front of Xue Huai, looking him up and down as if observing where to strike without harming Xue Huai's life, while still giving him a profound lesson.

His martial arts skills were not weak; dealing with a thin scholar would be easy for him.

Xue Huai remained standing tall and solemn, coldly watching the young prince who had been spoiled to the point of being lawless by Consort Liu.

"I'll teach you a lesson today: don't be so stubborn when you don't have the guts!"

The Prince of Dai spoke sternly, then raised his right arm.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment, I will go and report immediately."

"I want to see my brother, and you dare to stop me? Get out of my way!"

A clear, cold voice suddenly came from outside the door.

The Prince of Dai's raised arm stopped in front of him.

The next moment, the door to the private room was pushed open forcefully, and Princess Yun'an, dressed in casual clothes, walked into the room.

She seemed not to see Xue Huai, and stepped forward to take the Prince of Dai's outstretched arm, scolding, "Brother, did you come to Taihu Tower today because there's something delicious? Why didn't you call me?"

The Prince of Dai's expression stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal. He turned to look at Jiang Li and said indulgently, "Yun'an, what are you saying? If I have something delicious or fun, when have I not had it sent directly to your Green Green Villa?"

"My brother is so good to Yun'an!"

Jiang Li offered a sweet smile before turning to Xue Huai, who was standing not far away, and asked in surprise, "Oh, isn't this Xue Hanlin? I heard that you were transferred by Vice Minister Shen to the Investigation Department to assist in the investigation. What brings you here?"

Xue Huai remained silent.

Jiang Li scrutinized the two of them suspiciously, her expression displeased, and said, "Xue Huai, you wouldn't be trying to cause trouble for my brother, would you?"

Prince Dai, worried that Xue Huai, being so stubborn, would blurt out what had just happened, interjected, "Yun'an, how could Editor Xue have a grudge against me? Actually, I admire his character, and since we happened to meet outside today, I invited him to sit for a while."

"I see."

Jiang Li nodded, then said with concern, "Brother, don't blame Yun An for being nosy. After all, His Majesty didn't allow you to observe politics. If this gets out, and those petty people find out that you actually took the initiative to get close to the court officials, who knows how they will talk about you."

The Prince of Dai said with relief, "How could I misunderstand you when you care about me so much? As for those rumors, you know I never care."

The two chatted and laughed, while Xue Huai stood by as if he were invisible.

After a moment, Jiang Li smiled and said, "Brother, since you just met by chance, I'll take Xue Huai away first. I have something to discuss with him."

Knowing that he could no longer do anything to Xue Huai today, the Prince of Dai joked, "I had no idea you two were so familiar with each other."

Jiang Li said frankly, "Your Majesty, have you not heard that some time ago, this Hanlin Xue accidentally fell into the Jiuqu River? It was my guards who saved him, and he even stayed at the Qinglu Villa for one night. He owes me a debt of gratitude for saving his life. If Your Majesty needs him to do something, you can just tell me. He certainly cannot refuse me."

"Okay, if that's really the case, I'll ask Yun'an for help no matter what."

The Prince of Dai smiled and brushed it off.

Jiang Li curtsied and took her leave, then said to Xue Huai, "Editor Xue, please?"

"Your Highness, please."

Xue Huai spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly. After the two left, the Prince of Dai walked slowly to the window, his chest heaving, his face ashen.

"Xue Huai..."

On the other side, outside Taihu Tower.

"Xue Huai, accompany me for a walk."

As the late winter sun slanted across the pavilion, sixteen-year-old Princess Yun'an stood before the steps, her slender figure as graceful as a branch weighed down by the first snow.

Her tone was soft and somewhat nonchalant, but her eyes were like black glass reflecting in a cold pool, cold and noble.

"Your Highness has arrived at just the right time."

Xue Huai walked alongside her, and with a single sentence, he revealed the details hidden in the shadows.

"I never intended to hide it from you; I just didn't want you to overthink it."

Jiang Li was quite frank, explaining, "You are someone His Highness the Crown Prince has taken a liking to, and you previously encountered that bizarre incident of falling into the water. Since I have been entrusted by His Highness the Crown Prince to look after you, I cannot let you fall into danger again. Therefore, I have arranged for two clever people to accompany you. They will not interfere with your life, nor will they infiltrate the Xue residence."

Xue Huai still didn't press her to tell him whether the Crown Prince's request was true or false, but simply nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

Jiang Li noticed the slight gloom in his voice, so she turned her head and looked him up and down before asking, "Did my brother attack you?"

"Almost."

To Jiang Li's surprise, Xue Huai did not hide anything this time and briefly recounted what had happened after he entered Taihu Tower.

Jiang Li seemed to be deep in thought, and after a moment she suddenly realized, "If I had arrived a step later, you would probably already be at Xuande Gate beating the Dengwen Drum."

This was indeed Xue Huai's plan.

Now he understands that this place is very different from his previous life. If a noble family like the Prince of Dai were to deal with him regardless of the cost, he would find it difficult to live peacefully. Therefore, he has only one choice: to make a big fuss about it.

If the Prince of Dai were to lay a hand on him today, he would make the matter public. In that case, if anything were to happen to him in the future, the Prince of Dai would always be a suspect.

Perhaps this cannot completely extinguish the Prince of Dai's murderous intent, but Xue Huai has to do it.

The more intense and public the conflict between the two sides, the safer his situation will be; otherwise, he might die inexplicably.

"It seems I've ruined your plan, but don't worry. Based on my understanding of the Prince of Dai, he's just using this method to force you to submit; he wouldn't actually dare to do it."

Jiang Li smiled apologetically and then made a promise.

Xue Huai hesitated and asked, "Why is Your Highness so certain?"

Jiang Li said softly, "Because Commander Han of the Jing'an Division is very capable."

Xue Huai wondered if Han Qian was really that capable, why couldn't he find out who was behind the coercion and instigation of Gu Heng and Liu Pingshun?

Jiang Li seemed to know what he was thinking and continued, "Because you are not the Prince of Dai, who would know that someone would set up such a scheme to plot against you? The Jing'an Division is powerful, but ultimately it does not have the ability to predict the future and would not have arranged people around you in advance."

The implication is that the Prince of Dai and other princes all had spies from the Jing'an Division around them, and if the Prince of Dai really wanted to murder a court official, the Jing'an Division would not have been unaware of it.

After thinking about it, Xue Huai agreed with Jiang Li's deduction.

"Xue Huai, have you made a decision about what I told you that day?"

Jiang Li raised her hand to smooth the strands of hair that fell down her temple, and slowly said, "I said back then that, given your current position, it's impossible for you to stay out of it. The more you try to distance yourself, the more you'll be drawn into the vortex. This is just the beginning; you'll encounter all sorts of troubles in the future."

Hearing her bring up the old story again, Xue Huai suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Jiang Li also stopped and looked at him with a hint of anticipation.

Xue Huai asked seriously, "Your Highness, what exactly do you hope to gain from me by helping me time and time again?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li knew that Xue Huai did not believe she was acting on behalf of the Crown Prince.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the two remained silent.

After a long silence, Jiang Li bit her lower lip and said, "You really want to know?"

Xue Huai said, "Yes."

Jiang Li said slowly, "The reason I helped you is not without reason."

Xue Huai looked into her eyes and said, "Please speak plainly, Your Highness."

"I do hope you can do something for me in the future, but I can't tell you now."

Jiang Li looked troubled and carefully chose her words, saying, "At first, I only went to the villa to see you out of curiosity, but you are not quite the same as the rumors. In addition, the maturity you showed later gave me a glimmer of hope. Perhaps when you become more capable, you can help me find out the truth about something."

Xue Huai asked persistently, "What is it?"

"Xue Huai, I won't hurt you."

Jiang Li was more serious than ever before. Meeting Xue Huai's gaze, she said sincerely, "If I tell you now, believe me, you will die soon."

(End of this chapter)