The Princess Wei Yang

49.Each Person has a Motive

Da Furen smiled and vaguely said: “Indeed, your Father certainly will not abandon his hopes. The plan will not end with one failure, it will continue but the only difference is the person who executes it. If you cannot do it, there is still Chang Xiao and Chang Xi. If they do not succeed, there is still Chang Ru of Erfang, and not to mention a bright and clever Li Wei Yang now. Whether it is the children of the wife or the concubines, it is only in name. The right to decide still remains in your father’s hands.”

Li Chang Le’s fingers quivered as a panic rose in her heart.

Da Furen noticed the effect it had on her and decided it was not necessary to frighten her anymore: “To tell you the truth, whether it is Chang Xiao, Chang Xi, or anyone else, they are only stones used to test the waters before the Li family takes action. Once they grow up, they will become much more useful, but in the end, they are only stones used to pave the road for you. Do you understand? That is why you must not make any mistakes, and especially not to involve your Dage and bring him down with you.”

Tears seemed to be brimming in Li Chang Le’s eyes. Under the candlelight, they seemed even lovelier and capable of stirring one’s heart: “Mother——”

Da Furen gently patted her hand: “You are precious jade and beautiful in this manner. Why would you be willing to be ruined by a common tile? I can bear with it; you can also bear with it and patiently wait for a timely opportunity.”

Li Chang Le lowered her head and did not respond for some time. At last, she only offered a soft “hmm” in agreement.

Towards the end of the year, Da Li was enveloped in a great snowfall. All the officials and nobles in the capital drank wine and gazed out at the snowfall in good spirits, but eventually, no one could smile anymore.

This snowfall had lasted over half a month and had become a snowstorm. Tens of thousands at the southwestern border were affected. Shocked, the Emperor ordered expenditures to be reduced, emergency relief to be provided, and ordered civil and military officials to devise countermeasures. Not long after, proposals landed on the Emperor’s desks like falling snow.

In the Pavilion, Tuoba Zhen could be seen wearing a deep blue changpao. The yijin and sleeves were intricately embroidered with flying cranes amidst the clouds with silver threads, which complimented the golden, carved belt and pale jade ornament the color of bamboo. Even with a just a glance, his presence created a lasting impression, more so than for others. The black chess in his hand remained suspended in midair above the chessboard.

Li Min Feng looked to him, slightly smiling as he said: “San dianxia is still preoccupied with the state of the snowstorm?”

A strange expression crossed Tuoba Zhen’s face. He smiled as he set the chess piece down: “Not at all, the Crown Prince will address all urgent matters. I am only someone with too much time on their hands and is indulging in their wealth and prestige.”

Li Min Feng casually said: “San dianxia, you and I have known one another for many years, yet you feel the need to keep things from me?”

Tuoba Zhen no longer hid his sentiments but only smiled vaguely and said: “Min Feng xiong, it seems you already have a solution to the snowstorm in mind?”

Li Min Feng set down a white chess piece and casually said: “Between this and that, there is only one way, and that is to open up the granary for emergency relief. At this point, bixia is prepared to close his ears to the world.”

Tuoba Zhen nodded, smilingly as he said: “That is true. In the past couple days, Fu Huang has reprimanded the officials in court several times. He ordered that a countermeasure to address the source of the snowstorm must be devised in three days. It is a pity that no one dares to present their proposal.”