When The Cherry Blossom Fades

.5 - They want who?

"They plan on sending that brat to Shangwei!?"

The minister's face contorted with hostility and anger, his nostrils flaring as his fist clenched tightly. The servant girl, trembling before him, nodded hastily, fearing for her life.

"This servant dare not lie to My Lord. I overheard His Majesty and His Grace discussing it," she whispered meekly.

Rage burned within the minister as he muttered through gritted teeth, "He wants to send that brat? I knew his insistence on an alliance was too out of character. He seeks to bolster his own position by marrying her off to a foreign prince."

The servant girl dug her head closer to the ground, feeling like a traitor for exposing the sweetest girl she had ever known. But her family's survival depended on sharing such information. "I'm sorry, My Lady, but I need to survive," she thought silently.

Glancing at the servant girl, the minister tossed her a bag of silver. "Good job, now get going," he commanded, his voice laced with a mix of disdain and urgency. The servant girl quickly scrambled to her feet and ran away, clutching the silver tightly.

"As if taking the Prime Minister title wasn't enough for him, he now seeks foreign power. Over my dead body!" the minister seethed, his anger palpable. He had carried a deep grudge against Prime Minister Han for a long time, despising him with a burning passion. Everything he had lost could be traced back to Prime Minister Han's existence—his job, his status, his worth. All had vanished because of a love-struck brat who had no business meddling in politics.

"Fine. This is how you want to play? I'll help you get rid of that little burden," he declared, a wicked gleam in his eyes. With a swift motion, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a green token, a symbol of his conniving intentions. "I guess I need to pay someone a visit."