Foreigner Of Time [Book II]

18

Even if it would be offensive, Lisa couldn't care about that right now; Eddard had always thought of her as someone who didn't understand the rules of etiquette and who wouldn't amount to anything anyways.

Lisa simply decided to be discourteous to the very end; she just stared at Eddard once she had said everything.

Sure enough, Eddard revealed a trace of delight once he heard it. 

Although it was fleeting, Lisa had still caught it.

Lisa retrieved her gaze and gave Eddard a courtesy with her hands, "Reporting father, cultivator Jisoo wanted me to take a trip to the city gates for her too. If there isn't any else, this son will report to cultivator Jisoo now."

"Mm, go then.

"This son will go now."

Lisa did not exchange any looks with Jennie, but the latter was still able to guess what she was thinking. 

She got up and bowed, "This daughter hasn't greeted cultivator Jisoo for a few days now. If father and mother have no other instructions for this daughter, this daughter will go with my husband."

"Go then, and give a message for me while you're at it. It'll be the fifteenth in a few days, I will visit the cultivator again on that day." Ruby said.

"Understood."

Lisa and Jennie left the main courtyard, then they walked silently together on the path towards the bamboo courtyard.

Once they reached a secluded and empty area, then Lisa finally spoke up, "The present situation is very unfavorable for us. I paid attention just now; I could tell that your dad was very happy. It was the kind of delight that he couldn't hide if he tried. I think he must have reached an agreement with V, and he might have already cast allegiance to the Second Prince... no, the Crown Prince's party."

"Although it's unfavorable for us, it's not necessarily a bad thing for the estate in general if it's true."

Lisa didn't think so. 

She said calmly, "Nini, the struggle for the throne is not as simple as you think it is. Even the surest bets can easily fail on this path. Think about the first Crown Prince; he was crowned ever since he was little, but what happened in the end? Wasn't he still replaced by another person while his bones had yet to cool? To be honest, even if your dad manages to smile to the very end with his decision, I can't understand why he would do this. You see, Princes fight to be crowned for the sake of that position, and major officials take sides to seek benefit for their families and credit for themselves. Members of the imperial family participate in it to win glory for their clan too. But what is your dad striving for? A General's success is built upon ten thousand bones, and the struggle for the throne is a thousand times more dangerous than that. The estate may be big, but it's just a fat piece of meat on the chopping board to the people in the capital city. All it takes is one word to topple it, and it's a decision that could be made at one banquet. If something really happened, would the new Crown Prince do his best to keep the estate safe? Also, the old Emperor is still in good health. An absolute majority of new Emperors are enthroned because the previous Emperor passed away. If it were you, would you want to see that happen? Once the Emperor notices that in the distant city, even a lowly merchant family is participating in this battle, What would the Emperor think? Is your dad not afraid that the estate will be uprooted before we can reach the end?"

Jennie fell silent. 

This time, she did not know how to answer Lisa's chain of questions either.

"I'm sorry." Jennie said quietly.