Chapter 295: Chapter 267 Who Got You the Doctor?
Xu Yin stood at the entrance of the Zhe Family’s residence for just a moment before the steward opened the door, inviting him inside.
The room reeked of a strong herbal scent. The room, which was thrown into disarray during their daytime visit, had been tidied up. Zhe Yu leaned against the headboard, his gaze calm with a hint of coolness as he looked at them.
Xu Yin walked up to the bed, examined him for a moment, and pulled over a chair to sit down.
"Having known General Zhe for many years, I’ve always thought you to be a straightforward person. This time, you truly made me see you in a new light."
Zhe Yu said, "Since the masks are off, what’s the point of beating around the bush? Why have you come here? You might as well speak plainly."
Xu Yin smiled slightly, "Do you know how much trouble Princess Rong and I went through to clean up after your disturbance?"
Zhe Yu sneered, "So, it’s become my fault? Wasn’t all this orchestrated by you? You are the real culprit here. You are impressed with me; I want to ask you, Xu Yin, have you always been this shameless, or did you become shameless only after becoming the son-in-law of the Prince’s Manor?"
Xu Yin leaned back slightly, a hint of coldness emerging beneath his lowered eyelids: "It seems the Princess isn’t very good at taming people. Even after more than twenty years, she still hasn’t made you understand what absolute loyalty is.
"Do you know why you’ve ended up in your current situation?
"It’s because you failed to see your position and didn’t understand your identity. You are nothing more than a tool, not even considered a chess piece.
"Even if you aren’t discarded today, you’ll eventually end up in this position someday."
At this, Xu Yin took out a letter from his sleeve and tossed it onto his bedding, "This is a letter I intercepted. During the days when you were critically injured, unsure if you would live or die, the Princess had already sent someone to the Zhe Family to select new members.
"You have never been irreplaceable."
Zhe Yu stared at the clear writing before him, his hands placed on the bedding slowly clenching.
"So what?" He looked at Xu Yin, "Are you trying to say that you are more valuable than me?"
"There are no eternal relationships in this world. Today I’m your enemy, but tomorrow I might not be able to become your friend." Xu Yin squinted, "If you’re no longer so stubborn, perhaps I can make you valuable."
Zhe Yu sneered, "Do you think I should trust the words of a wolf?"
"Why not?" Xu Yin raised an eyebrow, "A man must be ruthless to succeed. What’s wrong with being a wolf? Do you know that wolf packs in the wilderness are often invincible? Someone like you, who is supposedly honest and straightforward, will only end up enduring endless falls like today."
Zhe Yu looked at him, "What are your real intentions toward Prince Rong’s Mansion? Why did you set up this scheme to incite the conflict between them?"
"Why don’t you think that I am trying to get rid of you? Or that my aim was you?"
Zhe Yu gazed blankly ahead, "Such calculated schemes, how could you regard someone like me as a threat? How can I ever threaten you?"
Xu Yin applauded, "It seems I didn’t misjudge you. You are blindly loyal, not stupid."
Zhe Yu knitted his brows, "Why are you going around in circles? What exactly did you come here for?"
Xu Yin asked, "Who helped you catch the assassin last night?"
Zhe Yu withdrew his gaze, "Didn’t I already tell you? I had arrangements made long ago."
Xu Yin chuckled softly, "The Princess might be foolish, but I’m not. You should know you can’t fool me, so why not just tell the truth?"
He adopted a more serious look and stepped closer to the bed, "When I came here last night, was someone in your room?"
Zhe Yu said, "What does that have to do with you? Are you here to confess and admit that all these things were your doing? —"
Before the words finished, he let out a muffled groan!
At that moment, Xu Yin suddenly pressed down on his wound!
Zhe Yu took a sharp breath and grasped the hand with all his strength, but strangely, he couldn’t topple this scholarly figure!
Xu Yin’s gaze shifted from Zhe Yu’s face down to his wound, his expression turning grim: "You’ve recovered quite well over this period.
"You bled so much during the day that in theory, you should be lying down, but without the Princess summoning an Imperial Physician, you’ve managed to have your wounds dressed, changed bandages, stopped the bleeding, and even sit up, looking rather spirited.
"Who brought you a doctor?"
Zhe Yu had never crossed paths with Xu Yin in such a way before; he always thought him warm and affable, attentive and gentle with Yongping, and vastly talented, someone he could never compare to.
Only today did he realize that he was so heartless, venomous like a demon!
"Why should I tell you? Can you kill me?" Zhe Yu gritted his teeth, "You might deceive the Princess for a moment, but can you deceive her forever? Even if I’m useless to her, if you were to harm me again, do you think she would still feel no trepidation of losing everything? Would she still be willing to tolerate you, risking repercussions?"
"Master!" The steward’s voice came from outside, "The Princely Heir’s people are coming to our side."
Xu Yin frowned upon hearing this.
Zhe Yu glanced at him, "Thanks to you, my little room is quite lively today."
Xu Yin withdrew his hand; the composure on his face disappeared.
He said, "If I wanted to kill you again, I wouldn’t have come in person. I’m just going to ask you one question: do you still want to stay in Prince Rong’s Mansion?"
Zhe Yu sneered, "What business is that of yours?"
"If you don’t want to stay, I can pave a road for you, help you break free from Princess Rong’s control and live your life."
Zhe Yu said, "Would you be so kind?"
"I certainly won’t help you for nothing," Xu Yin replied, "As long as you tell me who is secretly inciting you, I, Xu Yin, will keep my word!"
He didn’t understand why Mrs. Zhang had come here too, but right now, Xu Yin didn’t want to confront her.
The Imperial Court wouldn’t give him much trouble; on the contrary, the person manipulating everything from behind Zhe Yu was what truly unsettled him.
For the first time, someone left him perplexed, hitting him right where it hurt, making him respond one step at a time today.
He had to find this person!
Even if it meant giving Zhe Yu a little reward!
Zhe Yu remained silent, lips tightly pressed.
"You don’t trust me?"
"You’ve tried to kill me several times, why should I trust you?"
"I’ve said before, no one is always your enemy. This time you can choose to trust me!"
Zhe Yu snorted again.
"What you can offer me, I believe the Princely Heir’s wife can offer as well. Do you think it’s better for me to tell you or to tell him?"
"Zhe Yu!" Xu Yin’s face darkened, "Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Mrs. Zhang is just a woman, but I am a court minister with real power!"
"I can agree to your terms, but I’m unwilling to leave like this without setting the record straight." Zhe Yu looked at him, "I’m unwilling to be treated as a tool. You should know, no dignified man can tolerate such humiliation!"
Xu Yin contemplated for a moment, raising an eyebrow slightly, "Then what do you want?"