Everything under Control
As a mother, Lady Zhu was overthinking things.
She knew Zhao Ruxi wasn't a timid person, but her frequent inquiries about the border region lately made her think things through.
After dinner, she made an excuse to go for a walk, pulled Zhao Ruxi aside, and quietly asked her, "Are you worried about Young General Fu?"
Zhao Ruxi's eyes widened in surprise. "Mother, why do you think that? No, no, really no. I rejected Young General Fu eight hundred years ago."
Lady Zhu asked suspiciously, "Then why are you so concerned about matters at the border?"
"But I'm going to take the imperial examination, right? What if the exam asks this kind of question? I can't be completely clueless about border affairs and not know where to begin, can I?" Zhao Ruxi said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, that's right." Lady Zhu was convinced.
She had assumed that although Zhao Ruxi had rejected Fu Yunkai initially, she had eventually Fu Yunkai. It turned out she hadn't realized it, but now that Fu Yunkai was in danger at the border, the girl was getting restless.
It turns out that's not the case at all. She was overthinking it.
"I'll ask your father to inquire about it for you, and he'll let you know if he finds out," she said.
Zhao Ruxi quickly waved her hand. "No need, no need. This has nothing to do with us. If Father goes around asking about it, people might misunderstand him. After all, border matters are quite sensitive, so it's best if we don't get involved."
If things really develop as depicted in the original story, and Zhao Yuanxun, a person with absolutely no connection to the border, starts inquiring about matters at the border, someone might be so unscrupulous as to use him as a scapegoat, accusing him of colluding with foreign powers and causing the annihilation of 100,000 soldiers. That would be a real problem.
Even if she inquired about the situation at the border, even if she knew that Xiao Lingyan's situation was not good, what could Zhao Ruxi Zhao Yuanxun? If Zhao Yuanxun got into trouble because of this, putting dozens of people in the entire household in danger, that would be terrible. Xiao Lingyan would still have to spare the energy to help the Earl of Suiping's Residence resolve its troubles.
If she wanted to know Xiao Lingyan's situation, she could simply spend points to buy information from the system.
Zhao Ruxi was still worried, so she specifically instructed Lady Zhu: "Please tell Father to be careful during this time and not to ask too many questions about the border. The border is tense, and the princes in the court are all grown up and have many thoughts. Although the Emperor is still in good health, who knows, someone might take this opportunity to cause trouble? So please advise Father to be careful in the government office."
Startled by Zhao Ruxi's words, Lady Zhu quickly nodded, "Don't worry, I'll persuade your father."
After parting ways with Lady Zhu, Zhao Ruxi returned to Slender Bamboo Courtyard and asked the system, "I want to know about Xiao Lingyan and the situation at the border. Can you tell me?"
The system was silent for a moment. "It can't be explained in just a few words."
"How many points do you want?" Zhao Ruxi said.
The system pondered for a moment, then quoted a price. "Three thousand."
Last time, the host didn't haggle with it, allowing it to earn 20,000 points, and it was grateful for the host's generosity.
The political situation is complicated now. If Xiao Lingyan dies, Zhao Ruxi will never be able to marry a prince again. Even if she has achieved some success now, a woman without a husband and family is ultimately incomplete, and her life cannot be considered a happy one.
Marrying someone else is naturally not as good as marrying the Fifth Prince, who is deeply devoted to her and holds a high position of power.
Therefore, both for public and private reasons, the system did not ask for an exorbitant price this time, and gave Zhao Ruxi a reasonable quote.
It needs energy to gather information; with three thousand points, it only earned a little bit of hard-earned money.
Zhao Ruxi can easily earn a thousand points by practicing a dozen or so calligraphy pieces. Each piece has thirty characters, and she has plenty of time now, so she can easily earn more than a thousand points a day. Moreover, she currently has more than four thousand points on hand.
Therefore, she readily agreed, "Deal."
"I'll deduct the points first and go gather information. You'll probably have to wait a day or two," the system said.
"Okay." Zhao Ruxi nodded.
For the next two days, apart from the announcements of the points Zhao Ruxi earned while practicing calligraphy and painting, the system remained silent.
On the third day, just as Zhao Ruxi was getting ready for bed, the system's voice finally rang out. "Host, I'm back."
Zhao Ruxi snapped out of her daze and asked, "How are you?"
"Don't worry, host, everything is under the control of the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince," the system said.
Then it explained the situation to Zhao Ruxi.
After hearing this, Zhao Ruxi was completely relieved.
Let's not even talk about Xiao Lingpu. He's the Second Prince, and Noble Consort Cen and the Cen Family have been secretly grooming him as the crown prince. Naturally, he's full of cunning and has no shortage of tricks up his sleeve.
Although the Fifth Prince was young before he was transmigrated, a child who grew up in the palace would not be innocent and harmless. His memories were inherited by Xiao Ke Xiao Ke was also full of tricks. The combination of the two made them even more cunning.
Knowing what was about to happen, how could these two not set traps and dig pits everywhere?
The situation between the second and Fifth Prince is not as simple as one plus one equals two. In addition, the Cen Family and the Fu Family are both tied to them, so the Third Prince and the crown prince are particularly wary of them and have always regarded them as formidable enemies that they want to eliminate.
Because of the Fu Family's and Xiao Lingpu's reputation for military prowess, they had been waiting for a major battle to break out on the border for the past few years. They planned to have someone sabotage the Fu Family father and son, and then have Xiao Lingpu pushed out of the court. Once at the border, Xiao Lingpu's life or death would be in their hands.
With Xiao Lingpu dead, Xiao Lingyan is no longer a threat.
Now the war at the border has finally begun, and both the Third Prince and the Crown Prince are planning to take action. Although the Fourth Prince has not taken the initiative, he also intends to add fuel to the fire and gain an advantage.
The Third Prince and the Crown Prince were both digging pits, intending to bury the Second and Fifth Prince in them. But unexpectedly, the Second and Fifth Prince also seized the opportunity to dig their own pits, not only refusing to fall in themselves, but also planning to show Xiao Ge how his three good sons could betray their brothers and treat the lives of border soldiers like a joke. Can such people be fit to be rulers?
The system didn't go into great detail, but Zhao Ruxi could roughly guess Xiao Lingyan and his companion's plan and intentions from what the system said, so she was no longer worried.
As a modern, independent woman, she was used to being involved in everything and having everything under her control. Now, suddenly being excluded from the whole affair, she felt a little panicked, constantly worried that Xiao Lingyan hadn't done things well, leading to ultimate failure and even loss of life.
Now that she knows the two men's plan is sound, and all she needs to do is wait and see how things develop, she feels confident and has nothing to worry about.
Instead of wasting time, you'd be better off reading books and practicing calligraphy, and earning some points along the way.
The next day, as she was peacefully practicing calligraphy, Yicui came in to report, "Miss, the County Princess of Qingyang has arrived."
"Please come in quickly." Zhao Ruxi didn't even look up until she finished writing the last few words, then put down her pen, got up, and went out to greet him.