"I am a servant in the deep palace. It is indeed inappropriate for me to go to Prince Duan to say these things. Therefore, I hope that Young Master Zheng can cooperate with me. In this way, Prince Duan will believe your words more. What do you say?"
Upon hearing Lin Xiaowei's words, Shen Xiaoyan and the others were all amazed.
Indeed, Yizixie had not overestimated Lin Xiaowei.
Lin Xiaowei was indeed a very intelligent person.
Shen Xiaoyan could not help but feel fortunate that Lin Xiaowei was only intelligent, and many things were beyond her control. More importantly, she did not rely on others. Otherwise, it would have been very easy for her to stand at the pinnacle of Great Chu.
If they had not crossed Lin Xiaowei, and if Sima Han were not a prince, Lin Xiaowei's final destination would have been none of their business.
However, both of these situations were indeed real.
Even though Lin Xiaowei was being polite now, it was only because she was inferior in skill and had a request, thus she was enduring.
"Since you have made it all so clear, then I would like to ask you, what will we get in the end?" Shen Xiaoyan asked impolitely.
Lin Xiaowei was stunned by Shen Xiaoyan's question.
Yes, how could she have forgotten this question?
Without benefits, who would suffer hardship and toil for no reason?
Even Shen Xiaoyan asked this, did it mean that there was a turning point in this matter?
Lin Xiaowei suppressed her excitement and said to Shen Xiaoyan, "Whatever you want, as long as it is something I can give, I will absolutely not be stingy."
This was not her boasting. As long as she could succeed in the end, she would not feel distressed about giving out anything now.
Zheng Wei suddenly looked up at Lin Xiaowei, making her a little breathless, before smiling and saying, "We want the military power in Zheng Xiang's hands."
"What?"
Lin Xiaowei looked at Zheng Wei in shock.
She had never expected that Zheng Wei would make such a demand.
The reason she wanted Zheng Xiang to confront Grand Princess Zande was for the mantis to stalk the cicada, while the oriole waits behind. She wanted that military power.
Even though she could not control military power now as she was in the harem, she could find someone relatively easy to control.
Even now, all her plans were completely disrupted by Zheng Wei's words.
"Can it be something else? As long as it's not military power, anything can be discussed." Lin Xiaowei pleaded with Zheng Wei, making her final effort.
Didn't Zheng Wei not want to get involved in court politics at all?
Otherwise, why would he have refused so decisively when Sima Zhu wanted to enfeoff him back then?
If he really wanted military power, why didn't he play along with the plan, acknowledge Zheng Xiang as his father, and then wait for an opportunity to kill Zheng Xiang, so he could legitimately have military power?
But why now, when she needed military power, did he have to come and snatch it?
Was it for Shen Xiaoyan?
But from what she knew, Shen Xiaoyan was also someone who had lived a life of leisure and freedom and disliked the deceit and scheming of the court.
Lin Xiaowei's mind raced, and her eyes swept over everyone in the room.
When she saw Sima Han sitting there, Lin Xiaowei's eyes lit up.
That's right!
It must be because of Sima Han. Zheng Wei wanted military power to contend for the throne for Sima Han.
At that moment, she truly regretted it.
She regretted coming to Zheng Wei.
Wasn't she now playing with a tiger for its skin?
In the end, she might even sell herself without realizing it.
But, if you don't enter the tiger's lair, how can you catch its cubs?
If she missed this opportunity, when would she have another such opportunity in the future?
If Ziyun gave birth safely, then she would have no way.
Given how much Baili Ziyun hated her, if there was even a slight opportunity, she would surely put her to death.
After careful consideration, Lin Xiaowei had no choice but to agree to Zheng Wei's conditions.
Since the terms had been settled, the next step was naturally to discuss specific countermeasures.
"There is not enough time this time. If I don't go back, His Majesty will be suspicious." Lin Xiaowei said as she got up.
She had already delayed for too long. She did not know when she would be able to get out next time.
What could be done?
Sima Han, however, called out to Lin Xiaowei, who was about to leave. "Take this back to His Majesty and say that we were moved by your finished garments today, and we gave you holy water. However, the amount is small. You will have to come two more times in the future to bring back all the holy water."
Lin Xiaowei excitedly took the holy water and her impression of Sima Han improved slightly.
Regardless of whether they were enemies in the future, at least for now, he had helped her solve a difficult problem.
This time, to get out, she had said many good things to Sima Zhu and promised again and again.
If there were no results, it would be difficult to get out of the palace in the future.
Now, with the holy water given by Sima Han, coupled with those words, she could get by this time, and she could get out next time.
"Lin Xiaowei remembers the kindness of His Fifth Royal Highness."
Lin Xiaowei seemed a little excited, and her face was much redder than before.
Unfortunately, no one appreciated her like this.
"Since that's the case, then you should leave first." Shen Xiaoyan impolitely issued the order to leave.
After Lin Xiaowei left, Shen Xiaoyan sighed helplessly, "I hope this is not a stupid teammate. Before dealing with the enemy, she will find trouble with us first."
Yizixie nodded in agreement, "What you said is quite right. Don't be fooled by her beautiful words just now. She might already consider Sima Han as her primary threat. Looking at her appearance, she wants to control the emperor to command the feudal lords."
"Heh."
Sima Han suddenly let out a mocking laugh. "If she really succeeds, then I will have no face to live in this world. Is our Shui family's royal clan inferior to a woman of unknown origin like her?"
Unknown origin?
Shen Xiaoyan secretly smiled upon hearing this. This was indeed very accurate. Lin Xiaowei was not just a woman of unknown origin.
On the other side, Lin Xiaowei sat in the carriage, tightly clutching the porcelain bottle given to her by Sima Han.
She had already opened it and smelled it. The taste was similar to the food Shen Xiaoyan had given her last time. It should be holy water.
Holy water!
Such a good thing was given to that fat pig Sima Zhu, which was a waste.
But if she didn't give it...
Lin Xiaowei took a deep breath, finally suppressing the agitation in her heart.
She still had to distinguish between what was important and what was not. She could not lose this great opportunity because of temporary reluctance.
The carriage soon arrived at the Forbidden City and sped in, directly heading towards the Hall of Diligent Governance.
This was a special privilege given to Lin Xiaowei by Sima Zhu.
Under normal circumstances, no one was allowed to ride a carriage or sedan chair in front of the Hall of Diligent Governance.
However, Lin Xiaowei was pregnant now, so she was naturally more pampered.
After alighting from the carriage, Lin Xiaowei walked slowly into the hall, her hand gripping the porcelain bottle tighter and tighter.
"Your concubine greets His Majesty..."
"Xiaowei, hurry up and get up. You are pregnant, and everything should be handled with care. What if something happens?"
Before Lin Xiaowei could kneel, Sima Zhu waived the ceremony and walked towards Lin Xiaowei.
Lin Xiaowei naturally stood up. She had not intended to truly bow in the first place; it was just for show.
In the past, she had to kneel down frequently because she had no other choice.
Now that she had special privileges, it would be foolish not to use them.
There was indeed such a fool.
Baili Ziyun, who used to be unreasonable, had changed her personality and disposition significantly since she became pregnant.
She was not only weak all day long like Sister Lin, but she was also polite to everyone she met.
It was completely unrecognizable from her arrogant and unrestrained demeanor in the past.