Chapter 18: Xie Can and His Party, I’ve Wanted to Eliminate Them for a Long Time

Chapter 18: Xie Can and His Party, I've Wanted to Eliminate Them for a Long Time

I don't know if it was because of Lin Qian, but Chu Xu didn't ask her to brew medicine anymore after that.

One day, Gao Wenyan couldn't help but quietly ask him.

"Has the Chancellor taken the medicine?"

"Lady Wenyan is thoughtful. Zhiyan arrived yesterday, so there's no need to trouble you anymore."

Zhiyan was the young servant who usually accompanied him and had joined them in Xi Ping yesterday.

"Did Wenyan offend the Chancellor?"

Chu Xu looked at her leaning on the windowsill and said helplessly, "Why don't you come inside?"

"Very well."

She pushed herself up, swung her leg over, and came in.

Seeing Chu Xu staring at her intently, Gao Wenyan touched her neck awkwardly.

"There are too many people around, so I had to resort to this method."

Since Chu Xu had spoken those words last time, she naturally needed to show some response, which would make their families' relationship even stronger.

Moreover, she wanted to gauge Chu Xu's attitude, whether it was affected by Lin Qian yesterday.

"Yesterday, Lin Qian..."

"Are you here to plead for him?"

This was a good opportunity to explain.

She said, "Does the Chancellor misunderstand my relationship with Lin Qian?"

He lowered his head to warm the teapot, not looking up, his tone indifferent.

"What is there to misunderstand about your relationship?"

His words were vague, leaving Gao Wenyan unsure whether he misunderstood or not.

"I heard from Prince Gong that the two of you are close."

Prince Gong again!

How could someone be so gentle and yet so talkative?

"Prince Gong must have misunderstood; it's not like that."

"If it's not like that, then it's good."

He paused and continued, "Lin Qian... is not a good match."

Gao Wenyan's heart tightened. "Why does the Chancellor say that?"

Chu Xu calmly placed tea leaves and brewed the tea.

"He is inefficient in his work and loose-lipped; he's a disaster."

Just because he failed to find the scriptures for him, he was deemed not a good match. Chu Xu truly had a narrow mind.

However, Lin Qian was indeed a disaster, and Gao Wenyan couldn't deny it.

In the blink of an eye, two cups of clear tea were served on the table, and Chu Xu handed one to her.

Gao Wenyan took it, took a small sip, and put it down because it was too hot.

"Do you remember Xie Can?"

Of course, she remembered, but she hadn't found the right opportunity to ask him about it.

"I heard that the Chancellor punished Minister Xie at Liu Zongzheng's birthday banquet."

Chu Xu curled the corners of his mouth.

"Yes. He deserved it."

"What did Minister Xie say to anger the Chancellor?"

"What did he say? What did he say?"

He leaned back in his chair, grinning mischievously. "Perhaps I just needed a reason."

"Why?"

Gao Wenyan was puzzled.

He refilled his empty cup with fresh tea and said leisurely, "Xie Can and his party, I've wanted to eliminate them for a long time."

Gao Wenyan's heart skipped a beat, but she lowered her eyes, hiding her excitement.

To have Chu Xu take care of Xie Can would be the best outcome.

Hearing Chu Xu say he intended to deal with Xie Can still shocked her.

These words should be shared only with trusted confidants. Could it be that Chu Xu really considered her as "family"?

"Would Lady Wenyan be willing to assist?"

In her previous life, she had not attended the banquet and naturally did not know about the unpleasantness between Chu Xu and Xie Can. She also would not have known that Chu Xu intended to take action against Xie Can.

If Chu Xu already had designs on Xie Can at this time, then in her previous life, the reason Xie Can could still jump around and annoy people when the Gao family fell into trouble was that Chu Xu had failed to bring him down.

Her acquaintance with Chu Xu was a variable, a completely different variable from her previous life.

Only with her involvement was there a possibility of changing the future and eliminating Xie Can!

So Gao Wenyan quickly agreed.

"Prime Minister, please give your instructions. Wenyan is willing to contribute whatever little help I can."

Surprisingly straightforward, Chu Xu couldn't help but tease her.

"Oh? The lady doesn't even ask for the reason?"

"The Prime Minister has always been honest and trusting with Wenyan. Wenyan should reciprocate."

"It would be great if you truly thought so."

Chu Xu saw through her little scheme.

He continued, "Since you know I am honest with you, don't hold back on formalities in the future. Don't say those polite and official words anymore."

Wenyan lowered her head but did not agree.

In the end, it was Chu Xu who sighed lightly.

"Fine, fine, do as you wish."

That night, a secret message from Gao Wenxi arrived in the capital city.

"Is something wrong?"

Seeing her expression, Lin Yishan asked.

"It's nothing, just a petty thief died."

Having never seen her like this, Lin Yishan found it somewhat intriguing and couldn't help but look at her more closely.

Gao Wenyan had no time to deal with him, feeling somewhat troubled.

The cook, Xiao Zhou, had hanged himself on the night she left the capital.

With Zhang Hai as a precedent, they had used various methods to prevent him from taking his own life, yet he still managed to find a loophole.

He had taken a slow-acting poison early on. If he had successfully escaped the residence, he would have given himself an antidote; otherwise, he would die after a few days.

Lin Yishan guessed that something had happened within the residence. He patted Gao Wenyan's head and said, "Even if the sky falls, your father and brother will handle it. What are you worried about?"

In her previous life, her father had said the same thing, but in the end, only she survived.

Gao Wenyan remembered that it was already spring at that time. Her father and elder brother had a fierce argument.

At that point, the situation was already very tense, with voices in the court all targeting the General's Residence.

Gao Wenyan was so worried she couldn't sleep. Even though she knew the chances were slim, she still wanted to search the study for some information to find a way out.

She was inside, so when General Gao opened the door, he didn't notice her. Gao Wenxi followed closely behind, looking serious.

Their appearance indicated they were going to discuss the current situation of the Gao family.

Gao Wenyan feared being sent away, so she hid in the shadows.

"The Yan people invaded, and he would rather let Xue He, that incompetent man, lead the troops than allow us to leave the capital."

"Who doesn't know how Xue He got his position? If he could lead troops, the civilians of Lian and Ping cities wouldn't have died in vain."

Her heart sank. She had thought this turmoil might be an opportunity for the Gao family, but unexpectedly, the Emperor had dispatched Xue He.

Everyone knew that Xue He was Noble Concubine Xue's nephew.

Noble Concubine Xue's favor never waned, and thus Xue He was continuously promoted.

He was granted a title without any merit, and after two years with the army, he was awarded the title of General of the West due to his success in defending the city.

It was rumored that last year, because of some event, he rose rapidly and became the General of the West.

However, anyone with basic military knowledge knew that Xue He was a complete incompetent.

Lian and Ping cities were easy to defend but hard to attack. However, Xue He was timid and cowardly, and after a few confrontations, the Yan people saw through his facade.

A simple psychological warfare tactic made him lose Lian city first, and after retreating to Ping city, he was forced to open the gates again.

Fortunately, Gao Wenxi had foreseen this and ordered Lin Yishan to lead three thousand elite soldiers to support them, saving Ping city before it fell completely.

Then Lin Yishan pressed on and recaptured Lian city.

Not only that, but he also pushed the Yan forces back until their commander surrendered and retreated to Lianping Mountain.

However, Xue He had a good chief of staff who somehow convinced the Yan commander to surrender to Xue He instead.

Lin Yishan, indifferent to fame and fortune, was not foolish. He glanced at Xue He with a half-smile, turned his horse, and led his troops away without hesitation.

Xue He claimed the military credit as his own and became the General of the West.

How could such a person be the savior of the city's civilians?

The Yan people somehow obtained news that both the Gao father and son were under house arrest in the capital.

Thus, they gathered twenty thousand soldiers to besiege Fengyu City, determined to capture it this time.

Fengyu City was strategically located and held significant importance for Great Ning.

Once Fengyu fell, Great Ning would likely face grave danger.

Despite the heavy garrison, the change in command boosted the morale of the Yan troops, which had been suppressed by General Gao for years, leading to an all-out offensive.

At this critical juncture, the Emperor insisted on appointing Xue He, making his stance towards the Gao family clear.

He had finally become suspicious.

"Father, the people at the border need us!"

However, General Gao was a man of principle. He firmly believed that the Emperor would eventually clear his name.

He lowered his voice and angrily scolded, "Rascal! What do you propose?"

"Once you leave the Capital, you will be a rebel and a criminal wanted by the court! How can you talk about leading troops into battle?"

Seeing the deep gaze of Gao Wenxi, General Gao paused, suddenly realizing what he intended to do.

Enraged, he grabbed an inkstone and threw it at Gao Wenxi.

Gao Wenxi endured the blow, with black ink staining his robe, but he did not flinch.

"I, I have raised such a monster!"

"Such treason! How can you face our ancestors? If you truly take this step, never call me father again!"

The Gao family was full of loyal martyrs, with their ancestors being founding heroes of Great Ning.

Every son of the Gao family took it as his duty to protect the nation, dedicating their lives to the cause until death.

Yet now, there was a rebellious Gao Wenxi, no wonder General Gao was furious.

Gao Wenxi still tried to persuade him.

"Are we to let ourselves be slaughtered, abandoning our family and the people in distress?"

"Father, look, Great Ning is no longer the Great Ning you sought to protect!"

General Gao was utterly disappointed and struggled to control his emotions, ordering him to leave.

Seeing Gao Wenxi unmoved, he glared fiercely and shouted, "Get out!"

He ordered Gao Wenxi to kneel in the ancestral hall, but Gao Wenyan sneaked over at midnight and found only flickering candles in the vast hall.

Gao Wenxi defied his father's order, believing he was right and had no guilt towards the ancestors.