bookcurios Chapter 1480 You are the Princess Guardian of the Nation, personally appointed by Eighth Brother
Chapter 1480 You are the Princess Guardian of the Nation, personally appointed by Eighth Brother
When Princess Wenshu raised her face again, her eyes were full of hesitation and fear, and her voice was weak: "Eighth Brother... I... if I write a letter, can you really guarantee that you will let me leave afterward and will not harm me or my maternal family in the slightest?"
She had to act like a vulnerable woman torn between fear and familial affection in order to lower the myna's guard and create an opportunity for herself to pass on the secret.
This is undoubtedly walking on a knife's edge; the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Seeing that Princess Wenshu's attitude had finally softened and she showed signs of compromise, Nangong Xuanche was delighted and did not suspect anything.
In his view, it was perfectly normal for a pampered young woman who had never experienced hardship to choose to submit after struggling in such a helpless and life-threatening situation.
A hint of smugness flashed in his eyes, and his tone softened considerably as he coaxed, "Fifth Sister, it's good that you've come to your senses."
"I assure you, as long as you do as I say, I will never harm you in the slightest. I will also treat your maternal family with respect and will not take any offenses against them."
"When the great cause is accomplished in the future, you will be the Princess Zhenguo, personally appointed by Eighth Brother, with a prestigious position and enjoy all the glory in the world! Your maternal family will also be able to advance further and bring honor to their family name because of you!"
Princess Wenshu slowly shook her head, her long eyelashes drooping to conceal the cold light in her eyes, and resignedly said, "I do not seek the title of Princess Zhenguo, nor do I crave immense wealth. I only ask that my maternal family and I may be safe and sound."
"It's natural!"
Nangong Xuanche immediately replied, "Eighth Brother is a man of his word, he always keeps his promises!"
Seeing that the time was right, he said no more and turned to signal to his trusted confidant who was guarding the corner.
Soon someone brought over writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and placed them on a rickety wooden table in the cellar.
Looking at the snow-white Xuan paper, Princess Wenshu raised her eyes and asked the question that had been on her mind: "Eighth Brother, in the eyes of outsiders now, you are already a dead man."
"Even if they know you still have some remaining power, without a leader, you're like a pile of loose sand. Who would truly pledge allegiance to you?"
"You asked me to write a letter... how should I write this letter?"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Xuanche appeared confident and assured.
He never expected that a single letter from Princess Wenshu would be enough to persuade her maternal family to surrender and willingly bear the charge of treason.
Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades, Grand Secretary Xie was an expert at weighing pros and cons. Even if he deeply loved Princess Wenshu, he would never act so irrationally.
What Nangong Xuanche needed was not the Xie family's loyalty, but simply to use them to do him a favor.
He looked at Princess Wenshu, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light: "Your maternal grandfather is the second-highest-ranking official in the cabinet, with disciples and old friends all over the court. It would be a piece of cake for him to arrange a reasonable and verifiable identity for you."
All he wanted was a clean name that could allow him to stand in the sunlight again.
In this way, he, the "dead man," could change his name and infiltrate the court again.
Xie, who held a high position of power and was in charge of auditing and promoting some officials, was the most suitable person to do this job.
Of course, Nangong Xuanche would not reveal to Princess Wenshu and the Xie family that this new identity was prepared for himself.
He gave a vague answer, saying that he was trying to find a way out for one of his most important confidants, and that he needed a clean background to facilitate future actions.
As for whether Princess Wenshu would guess his true purpose, Nangong Xuanche was not worried.
If Grand Secretary Xie were to arrange a new identity and household registration for him, it would be giving others a handle to use against him.
At that time, even if the Xie family had a thousand mouths, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves. They would already be associated with him, this traitor, and embark on a path of no return.
Many entanglements in life often begin with seemingly insignificant things. By the time one realizes it, one is already deeply mired in the mire, unable to extricate oneself.
Nangong Xuanche was well-versed in this matter.
Princess Wenshu pretended to accept her fate and picked up the pen as Nangong Xuanche had instructed.
"Dear Grandfather: Since our parting in the capital, I have been trapped in prison. Now, as I write this, I look around in bewilderment. Wen Shu is imprisoned and has no control over her own life. However, her life is not in immediate danger, so please do not worry too much."
"The kidnappers' intention is not to harm me, but to use Wen Shu to make a deal with the Xie family..."
Princess Wenshu understood that she had to leave clues in the letter, but she couldn't make them too obvious.
She carefully considered her words, using extremely subtle language to leave some hints, and thus wrote very slowly.
Nangong Xuanche did not urge her, but patiently looked at Princess Wenshu.
He did not immediately send the letter out. Instead, he took the thin sheet of paper himself and, by the dim candlelight, carefully examined it word by word.
Princess Wenshu's heart leaped into her throat, and her fingers, hanging in her sleeves, clenched tightly. She held her breath, trying her best to maintain the expression of lingering fear on her face.
However... Nangong Xuanche's caution far exceeded her expectations.
After reading it once, he summoned several of his trusted confidants and asked them to examine it carefully.
The group examined the letter again from beginning to end, exchanging opinions in hushed tones and analyzing every word that might contain a coded message.
Princess Wenshu felt a chill run down her spine, and her clothes were soaked with cold sweat...
She could even hear her own heart pounding.
Princess Wenshu could only pray that the clues she left behind were clever enough to fool their suspicious eyes.
Time passes little by little...
Every moment was agonizing for her.
Finally, the trusted leader raised his head and nodded slightly to Nangong Xuanche: "Master, no problem."
A hint of satisfaction flashed across Nangong Xuanche's face. He casually folded the letter and handed it to his subordinate: "Find a reliable person to deliver it to the Xie residence."
"Yes!"
Only after watching the letter carrying all her hopes being sent away did Princess Wenshu dare to relax a little.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was still pounding.
The letter was sent, but could the grandfather read the warning she left behind, a warning she had risked her life for, from the seemingly ordinary words of the letter?
Princess Wenshu had no confidence and could only silently pray to Heaven in her heart.
……
The study in the Xie family mansion.
Grand Secretary Xie sat in his chair, looking exceptionally lonely and aged.
The news of Princess Wenshu's disappearance was strictly kept secret within the palace, and very few people knew the inside story.
Even within the Xie family, apart from his maternal grandfather, no one else knew the details.
Xie Ge is over sixty years old, and his temples are already gray.
His daughter was the former Consort De, who died young, leaving behind only Princess Wenshu as her heir.
Princess Wenshu lost her mother at a young age and was taken in by the Xie family to be carefully raised for many years until the emperor ascended the throne and bestowed upon her a princess residence, at which point she moved out.
In Xie Ge Lao's heart, this granddaughter was not only a precious daughter, but also his beloved daughter who died young, the only continuation of her in the world, and the apple of his eye!