CHAPTER 698: CHAPTER 284: XIAO JINXING’S CUNNING (FOURTH UPDATE)

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were buried.

The funeral ceremony was, of course, extremely grand.

After the burial, Xiao Jinxing began to prepare for the military campaign.

Before setting out, naturally everything had to be arranged properly.

Xiao Jinxing summoned Wu Xufan and Xiao Hezhen to the great hall.

In these days, everyone was very tired.

Almost none could get a good night’s sleep.

Just when the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were finally buried and Xiao Hezhen thought about catching up on sleep, she didn’t expect to be called back by her third brother before she could even leave the Imperial Palace.

"I’ve decided, I will lead the battle at the border," Xiao Jinxing stated the main point directly without beating around the bush.

"What about the court if you go?" Xiao Hezhen woke up from her drowsiness at once.

She never thought her third brother would leave at this time.

She had always thought that after their father the Emperor and grandmother were buried, it would be time for her third brother’s ascension ceremony.

She also knew that the ministers in the court were all urging her third brother to ascend the throne.

A country cannot be without a ruler for a day!

"That’s why I called you and Xufan here today," said Xiao Jinxing.

Before he could continue,

Wu Xufan sensed that something was amiss and hastened to speak, "Don’t you drag me into this!"

Ye Qichi couldn’t help but laugh at the side.

Wu Xufan, having been with Xiao Jinxing for so many years, was very clear about his thoughts.

Xiao Jinxing looked at Wu Xufan.

"Let me tell you, I’m okay with leading troops and fighting enemies, but don’t ask me to deal with those old men in the court, I can’t handle that!" Wu Xufan declined outright.

He never liked to use his brain to begin with.

Most of the time, he just followed orders.

For him to now take the initiative to entangle with those old men, he would surely go crazy.

"You’re thinking too much," Xiao Jinxing said with undisguised sarcasm, "I never thought of having you govern the country."

Wu Xufan was startled for a moment.

Then, feeling uncertain, he asked, "Really?"

"Of course," Xiao Jinxing affirmed.

Wu Xufan breathed a sigh of relief.

In that moment, he couldn’t help but laugh out, "Then who do you plan to have help you govern the country?"

He even had a schadenfreude expression on his face.

"Hezhen," answered Xiao Jinxing.

The smile at the corner of Wu Xufan’s mouth suddenly stiffened.

His whole person petrified.

Xiao Hezhen, who was still pondering who it could be, was completely dumbfounded when she heard her own name.

Her?! She had never learned or understood the affairs of the court officials; how could she possibly qualify?

The thought itself was frightening.

She hastily said, "I can’t, I really can’t, I don’t know anything, I..."

"In front of the greater good of the nation, as a Princess, you naturally have to take on your responsibility! You can learn what you don’t know. I won’t leave immediately; departing for the campaign will take at least a month or two. During this period, you will stay by my side and learn well," Xiao Jinxing spoke sternly.

"But third brother, I am a woman, how can a woman take on such a major task..."

"In the face of national crisis, there is no distinction between men and women!" Xiao Jinxing didn’t give Xiao Hezhen any chance to refuse, "I have chosen you, so it is you."

Xiao Hezhen was clearly very displeased.

A woman secluded in her boudoir, how could she take on the heavy duty of governing the country?

Her third brother was practically demanding her life.

"Wu Xufan." Xiao Jinxing did not bother with Xiao Hezhen anymore. He was well aware that the more he said now, the more Xiao Hezhen would argue, so it was better to give her the cold treatment.

Wu Xufan also came back to his senses from the shock.

After all calculations, he never expected Xiao Hezhen to be involved.

Who would have thought of using a woman?! There had never been a precedence of a woman in power in the Daxuan Kingdom.

The thoughts of Xiao Jinxing were generally difficult for ordinary people to keep up with.

"Your servant is present," Wu Xufan responded.

"I won’t make things difficult for you; just now you said you were willing to dispatch troops and fight on the frontline," Xiao Jinxing said.

Wu Xufan suddenly fell silent.

If Xiao Hezhen governs the country, and he were to leave...

How could he bear to let Xiao Hezhen face those old scoundrels alone?

"I’ll give you two options: one is to follow me to the border to fight, the other is to stay in the Imperial Palace to assist the Princess," Xiao Jinxing generously proposed, "It’s your choice."

Wu Xufan clenched his teeth.

Xiao Jinxing clearly knew what choice he would make, and yet he still gave him the decision to make.

It’s like he’s gotten a bargain and still acts cute about it.

He even suspected that appointing Hezhen to govern the country was just to make him stay to protect his imperial throne.

Xiao Jinxing, this guy, is really too treacherous.

"If you truly wish to follow me to the border to wage war, I will naturally fulfill your wish," Xiao Jinxing continued seriously, "I will appoint Yuan Wenkang to stay and assist the Princess."

"Your servant is willing to stay," Wu Xufan hurriedly spoke, making his choice with gritted teeth.

Xiao Jinxing was well aware that Xiao Hezhen liked Yuan Wenkang, and yet he still provoked him like this.

These past few days, he watched Hezhen leave the Imperial Palace, and without thinking, knew she was going to see Yuan Wenkang.

He kept himself so busy just so he wouldn’t have time to think too much.

He feared he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

"This was your own choice, don’t say that I made things difficult for you," Xiao Jinxing confirmed.

Ye Qichi felt that if possible, Wu Xufan would bite Xiao Jinxing to death at that very moment.

Xiao Jinxing, this person, is really unscrupulous.

"It’s my own choice," Wu Xufan enunciated, pausing between each word.

"Since that’s the case, then I have nothing more to say," Xiao Jinxing began making arrangements, "Today, Hezhen and Wu Xufan shall go back to rest; starting tomorrow, Hezhen and Wu Xufan will move from Marquis Wu’s Mansion into the Imperial Palace to live, and Hezhen will come to my side every day to handle state affairs with me."

"May I refuse?" Xiao Hezhen was genuinely reluctant.

She truly felt she was not capable.

"You may not," Xiao Jinxing affirmed.

Xiao Hezhen looked aggrieved.

"Oh right," Xiao Jinxing suddenly recalled, "The suggestion to have Hezhen govern the country was actually proposed by Ye Qichi. Hezhen, you should thank her. She has great confidence in you!"

I curse you and your ancestors for eighteen generations.

At that moment, Ye Qichi really wanted to step forward and bite Xiao Jinxing.

Damn it.

Never seen someone toss the blame with such a lack of shame.

How dare Xiao Jinxing?!

She had helped him devise strategies.

And just like that, he betrayed her.

Ye Qichi almost couldn’t control herself.

At that moment, looking at Xiao Hezhen’s pleading eyes staring at Ye Qichi, "Third sister-in-law, you really are good to me."

"..." Ye Qichi almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You may step down. Starting tomorrow, you must take on the responsibilities and boldness of a Princess," Xiao Jinxing said sternly.

Xiao Hezhen knew there was no room for resistance.

So she had to salute and take her leave.

Wu Xufan naturally followed Xiao Hezhen.

The two of them sat in the carriage.

Since the time Xiao Hezhen was taken away by Nanny Wu to the Palace, many significant events had happened, but this was the first time they were alone together.

The interior of the carriage was somewhat quiet.

Wu Xufan suddenly asked, "How is Yuan Wenkang doing?"

Xiao Hezhen was startled.

She turned her eyes to Wu Xufan.

Slowly, in a low voice, she said, "Much better. The house doctor said with proper rest, he could fully recover in a month and a half."

"That’s good," Wu Xufan nodded.

He seemed very detached.