Xue Zining nodded. "You may."
Soon, a woman dressed in coarse linen clothes entered. Qiao Weihai was stunned to see her and exclaimed, "Sister Cuiying..."
The woman called Cuiying trembled all over. Seeing Qiao Weihai, she knelt on the ground, her voice filled with emotion, "Young master, you are alive, it's truly wonderful, truly wonderful."
"Sister Cuiying..." Qiao Weihai crawled over and hugged the woman, weeping painfully.
Cuiying helped Qiao Weihai up. "Young master, please don't cry. If the Prince of the Prefecture knew you were alive, he would surely be very happy."
Qiao Weihai was startled. "Grandfather?"
Cuiying nodded. She patted Qiao Weihai's shoulder and said, "This time, this servant will take you home."
Cuiying stood up and bowed to Lord Yu. "Thank you, Lord Yu, for taking care of the young master during these days. My Prince will surely be grateful in the future."
Lord Yu waved his hand. "No need. I am merely repaying the life-saving grace of General Qiao from years ago."
Cuiying turned and her gaze fell upon the young woman seated at the head of the table. She bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty. This servant is from Fen Zhou, Xue Country. My master is the Prince of Fen Zhou Prefecture. Upon hearing that the young master was in Huang Ze, my master specially sent me to welcome the young master home. I implore Your Majesty, for the sake of the current good relations with Xue Country, to allow the young master to return home."
Xue Zining turned to Xue Wenjie and asked, "Imperial Uncle, what are your thoughts?"
Xue Wenjie looked at Cuiying and said coldly, "Words are not proof."
Cuiying took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it over.
Yan Zhao stepped forward to take it. Cuiying hesitated slightly before handing the letter to him. Yan Zhao held the letter and passed it to Xue Zining.
Opening the letter, it contained no difference from what Cuiying had said. The signature at the end bore the seal unique to Xue Country.
"Imperial Uncle?" Xue Zining noticed Xue Wenjie was reading with great seriousness, as if afraid of missing something.
Xue Wenjie looked up and said coldly, "Everything depends on Your Majesty's command."
This time, it was Xue Zining's turn to be surprised. Was Xue Wenjie giving up so easily?
As if sensing her surprise, Xue Wenjie coughed lightly. "Since Xue Country has intervened, I believe it would be a good idea to do them a favor."
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes, thinking to herself that this was not Xue Wenjie's usual behavior.
It seemed Xue Wenjie must have some connection with Xue Country.
Treason?
The words lingered in her mind.
"Your Majesty..."
Yan Zhao said softly.
Xue Zining came back to her senses and said calmly, "Your Prince's desire for Young Master Qiao to return to Xue Country is thoughtful. However, Young Master Qiao attempted to assassinate the Regent, and there are both witnesses and evidence. I'm afraid we cannot let him go so easily."
Everyone present was stunned. They had never expected the Empress to say this.
Xue Wenjie was also taken aback. Did the Empress not want Qiao Weihai to be released the most?
Why had her mind suddenly changed?
Cuiying heard this and said, "To express our sincerity, my Prince will offer tribute to Your Majesty for the next three years."
As she spoke, she produced another letter.
Xue Zining opened it. This time, it was written by the Prince himself, with his princely seal below.
"What if your Prince goes back on his word?" Xue Zining asked, looking up.
Cuiying replied, "My Prince has instructed this servant to bring His Highness the Crown Prince's personal letter."
Xue Zining was taken aback. The Crown Prince of Xue Country?
She opened the letter from the Crown Prince of Xue Country. The handwriting was truly... difficult to describe.
She had thought that the rumored astonishingly beautiful handwriting of the Crown Prince of Xue Country would be as pleasing to the eye as his appearance.
She closed the letter, realizing that one should not judge a person by their appearance, nor measure the sea with a ladle. Just because someone is good-looking doesn't mean they are good at everything.
The contents were simple, stating that for the continued good relations between the two countries, he hoped Huang Ze would release the person for his sake.
"I can release him, but after all, it was the Regent who was attacked. This still depends on whether the Regent wishes to pursue the matter."
At this point, Xue Zining looked at Xue Wenjie. "Regent, what are your thoughts? If you feel you cannot let this insult pass, I will absolutely not release the person who attacked you."
Xue Wenjie looked up and sneered. This was a hot potato thrown at him. If he said to release the person, wouldn't he be at a disadvantage? The world would say he feared Xue Country and dared not do anything after being attacked.
If he didn't release him...
His plan might have to be postponed.
He couldn't wait any longer.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to consider me. I obey Your Majesty's command," Xue Wenjie said.
Xue Zining cast a cold glance at Xue Wenjie, then withdrew her gaze. "Since the Regent does not mind, I am also pleased to see Huang Ze and Xue Country continue to foster good relations."
Cuiying was overjoyed and kowtowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is wise!"
"That's enough, I am tired. Lord Yu, I leave the rest to you," Xue Zining said and stood up to leave.
"Young master, this servant will take you home." Cuiying helped Qiao Weihai up.
Exiting the Regent's mansion, Cuiying looked at Qiao Weihai, who had already gotten into the carriage, and said to Lord Yu, who was beside her, "Lord Yu, please see to the young master's arrangements. This servant has other matters to attend to."
Lord Yu nodded. "Alright, you may go!"
Cuiying departed.
Lord Yu watched Cuiying's retreating figure, deep in thought.
Regent's Mansion
Xue Wenjie looked at the woman before him with a cold smile. "Your Prince is truly good at going back on his word. It was your Prince who ordered my family's annihilation years ago, and now it is your Prince who saves the Qiao family. Is it amusing to toy with me?"
Cuiying bowed. "Your Highness, please do not be angry. This is not my Prince's intention. Not long ago, His Highness the Crown Prince sent a letter informing my Prince that the Qiao family still had descendants and hoping my Prince would bring them back."
Xue Wenjie frowned. "Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince go missing?"
Cuiying replied, "The palace had been saying so, but some time ago, His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly returned."
Xue Wenjie sneered. "Your Prince must be anxious!"
Cuiying said, "My Prince wishes for Your Highness to keep your promise and help him seize the throne after you ascend to the throne."
"That is natural, for we are allies," Xue Wenjie said.
Cuiying bowed. "I have delivered my message. Your Highness may proceed with your plans."
"Good, I await the day of the palace banquet."
"I offer my premature congratulations on your ascension to the throne, Your Highness," Cuiying bowed and paid her respects.
Xue Wenjie's spirits lifted. "Tell your Prince to await my good news."
After Cuiying left.
Jin Ming emerged from the shadows. "Your Highness, did the appearance of the Crown Prince of Xue Country seem a bit too coincidental?"
Xue Wenjie heard this and said, "His appearance or not has no impact on my grand undertaking."
Jin Ming watched Xue Wenjie's joyful expression and did not press further. For some reason, he felt that the appearance of the Crown Prince of Xue Country was not a good thing.
"Is everything arranged?" Xue Wenjie asked.
Jin Ming replied, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I have made all the arrangements. By the way, Your Highness, I have discovered that the few individuals the Empress has been favoring recently all come from Prime Minister Hua's family."
Xue Wenjie heard this and sneered, "As expected, their ambitions are not extinguished."
"Your Highness, shall we strike?" Jin Ming asked.
"They are not a threat. On the day of the palace banquet, we strike," Xue Wenjie said with a sinister tone.