Chapter 6: Differences in Respect and Humility

"My family's A Rao's soldiers naturally cannot be cheap for others."

My family's A Rao...

This tone of protecting the calf and occupying, is so natural, when did Miss Xiao of the Xiao family become a member of the Qin Nan Wang's mansion? Jinghua doesn't quite understand: "What do you mean, Your Highness? If not cheap for others, then who?"

Chu Yu pondered for a moment, and adjusted the thin quilt on his body: "Pass on my words to Wei Zheng, if Miao Jue invades, please order the soldiers to support."

Wei Zheng is stationed in a remote border, if Miao Jue really invades, distant water cannot put out a nearby fire. Only the 200,000 troops stationed at the Wei Ping Marquis's mansion can be mobilized. Your Highness is using the pretext of pacifying the chaos to let our people swallow the Ro Ping army's big piece of fat.

As for whether Miao Jue is really invading, the emperor is far away, if Your Highness says so, then it is so.

But if the world knows that Wei Zheng, the loyal Marquis of Ping, is an internal minister of the Qin Nan Wang's mansion, then the whole country will be in chaos!

Furthermore, Wei Zheng is a member of the Qin Nan Wang's mansion, when did he become a member of Miss Xiao's mansion?

Jinghua said: "It's just the beginning of spring, perhaps Your Highness's spring tide is coming late, that's why it's budding."

Half a month later, the loyal Marquis of Ping submitted a memorial requesting reinforcements against Miao Jue's invasion, and 200,000 Ro Ping army reinforcements were incorporated under the loyal Marquis of Ping's command.

Outside the Jinghe courtyard, a few stars were shining, and the branches of the apricot tree cast mottled shadows under the moonlight.

Zixiang pushed the door open and walked to the side of the woman who was sleeping lightly on the soft couch, and said, "Mistress, it's the loyal Marquis of Ping, Wei Zheng."

Xiao Jingxi raised her eyes, the drowsiness dissipated, and she rubbed her eyebrows: "It's not necessarily bad news." The loyal Marquis of Ping, Wei Zheng, is a loyal and righteous man, stationed at the border without any disputes with the world. She added, "Send a message to Gu Xi and observe quietly."

Gu Xi led the Ro Ping army to guard the Wei Ping Marquis's mansion, and Xiao Jingxi had just taken over the military power, so it was indeed not suitable to act rashly.

Zixiang nodded and was about to speak again: "Mistress, about the battle of Yingling Pass—"

Xiao Jingxi interrupted: "Zixiang,"

Since the Eastern Palace is difficult to escape from involvement, how can the grudge of the Wei Ping Marquis's mansion be left unavenged? Zixiang didn't understand why the mistress was observing the situation quietly. With 200,000 Ro Ping army troops, even if they couldn't overthrow the Great Liang, it would be enough to make the Eastern Palace have no good days.

"Knock, knock, knock!" The fingers tapping on the desk stopped, and the pale fingertips fell on the teacup. Xiao Jingxi said, "I don't like to kill without reason."

The calm words were devoid of any ripples, but they sent chills down one's spine. Yes, killing without reason often leads to a fall from the highest position, causing unbearable pain.

Zixiang pondered, feeling that her mistress's ability to kill with a snap of her fingers was becoming increasingly unfathomable.

At this moment, it was not long before the sky darkened, and Yunli returned to the Jinghe courtyard.

"Miss," upon entering the main hall, Yunli reported, "The Duke of Wenguo has returned from the palace and sent someone to invite the young lady to have dinner."

Zixiang snorted softly: "The master has not dined with that family for many years, what kind of drama is this?"

Xiao Jingxi just smiled and remained silent, picking up the teacup and taking a sip.

Back when the Duke of Wenguo, Xiao Fengyao, was just a poor scholar, he entered officialdom after gaining the favor of the daughter of the Marquis of Wei Ping, Wei Hongling. However, Wei Hongling had a short life and passed away after giving birth to a sickly daughter. Xiao Jingxi was raised in the Marquis of Wei Ping's mansion since childhood, and her relationship with the Duke of Wenguo was neither close nor distant.

Oh, most of the time they were at odds, just like now. Even before seeing anyone, she could hear the complaints of the young woman.

"Seventh sister, you're really putting on airs, making father and mother wait for you."

The speaker was the daughter of Liu Yueru, the woman in charge of the Duke of Wenguo's affairs, named Liu Ningyu. She resembled her mother and was very charming. She was usually doted on by the Duke of Wenguo and spoiled by her mother.

Xiao Jingxi lazily took a seat on the side and replied nonchalantly, "Did I make you wait?"

Xiao Ningyu was annoyed: "You—"

Xiao Jingxi continued nonchalantly, "I haven't dined with you all since I was seven years old, so let's skip this dinner." She raised her eyes and looked at the Duke of Wenguo, Xiao Fengyao, "Father, if you have something to say, just say it."

Xiao Fengyao, who was sitting in the main seat, was already past middle age, and his expression showed a certain level of composure and shrewdness: "Next month, there will be a selection of court ladies, and I have sent your name card along with those of your two sisters to the palace."

In the twenty-ninth year of the Great Liang, the Emperor Shun was selecting court ladies for the unmarried prince. This was recorded in the historical records of the previous life.

In the historical records, there were very few mentions of her, just a few lines, such as: Court lady selection, Xiao Seven of the Duke of Wenguo's mansion, entered the Eastern Palace.

This line recorded her irreversible fate.

She smiled, poured a cup of clear wine, and drank a few sips alone: "Father," her tone was calm, without any fluctuations, "I have always repaid grievances. If one day I have the power to dominate the Great Liang, the days of the Duke of Wenguo's mansion will surely not be easy."

Xiao Fengyao's eyes suddenly narrowed, his face changing drastically.

Xiao Jingxi seemed indifferent and asked, "In that case, Father, do you still want to send me to the royal family?"

If one day she had the power to dominate the world, it wouldn't be a case of shared glory, but rather a case of one's gain being another's loss.

Indeed, among his seven daughters, she was the most intelligent and cunning. Last year, when the foreign enemies invaded the border of Wei Ping, more than half of the civil officials, led by Xiao Fengyao, advocated for war. It was precisely because of the corruption of those civil officials that the Ro Ping army was besieged at Yingling Pass.

Xiao Seven, ah, knows everything.

Xiao Fengyao was unexpectedly unable to defend himself, looking at this daughter who had just come of age, he felt an inexplicable chill.

On the other hand, Liu Yueru, who was sitting beside him, scolded, "Jingxi, how can you say such rebellious words." Her tone was meaningful, "In the end, you are still surnamed Xiao."

In the end, surnamed Xiao...

In her previous life, on the day she was deposed, she was sent to the cold palace. Does the Wen Guo Duke's Manor remember that her surname was also Xiao? Instead of sending Xiao Fu Chen, who shared the same surname, into the harem. From then on, she was abandoned and had nothing to do with life and death.

Xiao Jing Xi coldly chuckled and said no more, then turned and left.

"Xiao Jing Xi!"

It was Liu Shi's eldest son, Ming Shuo, who called out to her from the room. He entered from the outside and gave Xiao Jing Xi a cold and mocking look, "Now that you have lost the protection of the Wei Ping Marquis's Manor, you still dare to act so ungrateful. If it weren't for the Duke's Manor protecting you, what are you worth?"

This was the upbringing of the Liu family. A daughter of a small and humble family, unable to contain her anger. How could the children raised in such a small and humble family have the demeanor of a nobleman?

Xiao Jing Xi turned around without looking at Xiao Ming Shuo, "Aunt Liu," her tone was cold, not angry but authoritative, "Although you are busy managing the household affairs, do not forget to teach the people in your room the difference between respect and disrespect."

With the word "Aunt Liu" and the phrase "the difference between respect and disrespect," she slapped Liu Yue Ru hard. She had been in charge of the affairs of the Duke's Manor for many years. In the capital of Daliang, who didn't respectfully address her as the Duke's Lady? Only Xiao Jing Xi repeatedly reminded her that even though Wei Hong Ling was dead, the only designated lady of the Duke's Manor was still that dead person. As long as the Wei Ping Marquis did not fall, and the Rong Ping Army did not surrender, she was still Xiao Feng Yao's concubine.

Liu Yue Ru gritted her teeth, clenched her fingertips, and held back her resentment. But Xiao Ning Yu couldn't contain her anger and stood up, "Xiao Jing Xi!"

Xiao Jing Xi ignored her.

"Duke, " Liu Yue Ru paused for a while, her eyes turned red, "I can't control this legitimate daughter of yours. I'm afraid that in the future, no one in my room will be able to say anything about her." Her tone was both aggrieved and pleading, as usual.

Xiao Jing Xi left directly, too lazy to listen to such a boring play, and met Xiao Fu Chen and his birth mother, Aunt Zhou, at the door.