Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 201 - 160 Doing Things

Chapter 201: Chapter 160 Doing Things

Infighting isn’t exclusive to the Sects.

At the Imperial Court, the struggle is, in a sense, even more intense.

Because Dayan is so vast, the interests and entanglements within the Imperial Court are far more complex and extensive than within any single Sect.

Especially in recent years, the turbulence within the court halls has been one wave after another.

In his memory, Xu Yuan’s most direct perception came from the Directorate of Music.

Starting from five years ago, the leading courtesans were changing rapidly almost every month.

One day a censor’s wife would emerge, and the next there would be an additional shilang’s daughter.

This time returning to the Imperial Capital, Xu Yuan estimated that he would see quite a few new and expensive courtesans in the Directorate of Music.

That was because three months ago, the previous Minister of War and Minister of Revenue were both implicated in corruption scandals.

They were the highest-ranking officials in recent years to have their households searched and confiscated.

Xu Yuan didn’t know the inside story, but he did know that in the decades since the Emperor’s ascension to the throne, with the efforts of the Emperor and his (Xu Yuan’s) father, many of the stubborn, old forces from the previous dynasty had been purged.

In other words, most of the current high-ranking ministers at court were people of the Prime Minister and the Emperor themselves.

Yet now, the heads of the two most crucial departments, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, were directly implicated.

In the past, officials of such rank were mostly transferred; at most, they would be forced into retirement to return to their hometown. Even in power struggles, controlled measures were taken, and it was the lower-level officials who died.

But this time, outright asset confiscation had occurred.

This was a lethal blow.

As a once-profligate son, Xu Yuan wasn’t clear which sides those two officials were on, but regardless of whether they were aligned with the Prime Minister or the Emperor, it already indicated that the infighting at the Imperial Court was escalating.

These people were a lesson for the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

With the current scale of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, there was no way to gracefully surrender power. At this point, any retreat would mean a precipitous downfall.

After these words, there was silence.

A trace of undeniable tremors appeared in Xu Xinyao’s beautiful eyes.

Although she was explaining to Ran Qingmo, she knew a large part of her third brother’s words were meant for her ears.

To shatter the thoughts in her heart.

Ran Qingmo, by contrast, didn’t think so much. After a quiet moment, she asked,

"But if armed conflict is inevitable, why agree to a marriage alliance?"

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a smile,

"This marriage is a kind of indirect alliance."

Ran Qingmo looked puzzled,

"Is such an alliance useful?"

"No."

Xu Yuan denied the binding power of the marriage without hesitation, "Such an alliance, which only covers up conflicts, is made to be torn apart later."

If marriages could ease tensions, then the previous dynasties wouldn’t have had so many wars with the nomadic tribes.

But after a pause, Xu Yuan added,

"However, both the Emperor and my father need this arrangement."

Ran Qingmo looked at Xu Yuan, blinking as if trying to understand the reasoning, but eventually failed to grasp it.

She didn’t understand why they would go to such lengths for something without binding force.

Xu Yuan looked into her eyes,

"The Emperor and my father have been accumulating conflicts over the past few decades that have been slowly growing. If things continue this way, there is a high likelihood of escalation, but for now, neither side can afford to break entirely and still need to leverage each other’s strength.

"With this marriage, under the current circumstances, we can use it to negotiate should any discord arise. After all, both the Commandery Princess and I are direct relatives of our respective sides, and there will be some considerations before the relationship completely shatters."

"You can think of it as a signal or a sign, a symbol of the desire for reconciliation on both sides."

Hearing this, Ran Qingmo lowered her head to glance at the Ink Sword in her hand,

"Oh..."

Xu Yuan noticed her expression,

"What’s wrong?"

Ran Qingmo shook her head,

"Nothing."

Xu Yuan’s eyes curved as he leaned close to her ear,

"What, you feel uncomfortable?"

"...."

Feeling the man draw near, Ran Qingmo’s deep eyes lifted to glance at him and then dropped again,

"...A little."

"..."

Taken aback, Xu Yuan subconsciously halted his steps.

The two women did not wait for him and continued walking towards the main hall of the county government, their graceful figures receding in his sight.

After a long silence, the corners of Xu Yuan’s mouth twitched upward, but he soon sighed and hastened his steps to catch up,

"Actually, you don’t have to feel uncomfortable."

Ran Qingmo glanced at him sideways, her eyes still downcast, "Oh..."

Xu Yuan thought for a while, then said softly,

"I’m serious because you are special to me."

"..." Ran Qingmo stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in surprise as they flickered while staring at him.

To the side, Xu Xinyao, in the midst of confusion, looked over reflexively, setting aside her complex feelings for the moment, curiosity in her eyes as she watched her third brother and the Sword Sect’s foremost disciple.

Xu Yuan gave her a glance and waved her away, signaling her to scram.

Xu Xinyao pouted her lips, showing no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan let her be.

Ran Qingmo’s eyes welled with emotions, but ultimately she lowered them and quietly walked on.

"....." Xu Yuan.

Xu Xinyao poked Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan looked back.

Xu Xinyao mouthed a message,

Aren’t you going to comfort her?

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes at his fourth sister and said,

"No use."

"....." Xu Xinyao looked somewhat speechless and sighed.

Xu Yuan’s eyelid twitched.

Ran Qingmo might be naive about some things, but she wasn’t stupid. What’s more, the rhetoric used in the previous life to deflect conflicts had virtually no effect on her.