Chapter 210 - Giving Face

"The garden is big. Do you like to walk around here, Official Han?" Wei Liuying chose to break the silence first. It was a normal question, but she could see that Xie Han looked unprepared.

Did he rarely come here?

"Official Han?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. It's surprising for you to ask something like that," Xie Han replied with a smile on his face. He thought that Wei Liuying would ask something that was related to the work immediately, which was why he was nervous. However, she ended up asking unrelated question.

"What do you think I'll ask?" Wei Liuying asked back.

Xie Han smiled. "Something more serious. Also, regarding that question, the answer is no. My father is busy with his work and I have to study a lot, so naturally I don't have much time to spend playing around."

Wei Liuying nodded. She was walking aimlessly while looking around her. Beyond this garden would be the wall and also the gate to reach outside. There were a lot of plants that she rarely seen in this place. It seemed that the palace was truly a wonderful place.

"Would you like to walk further, Strategist Liu? It'll be outside soon."

"It's fine…"

"Brother!"

Hearing the childish voice of a young girl, Wei Liuying raised her head and noticed a young girl around the age of 11 walked in their direction. She was trying to maintain the same pace, but it was clear that she actually wanted to run. It was only because running would be improper that she held herself back.

Xie Han looked at the young girl and smiled. "Ni'er, what are you doing here?"

Ni'er… Xie Ni.

Wei Liuying had heard about the family members of Prime Minister Xie. He had three children from his main wife, which was his first daughter and his two sons. Aside from them, he had one concubine daughter named Xie Ni. In the past, Wei Liuying had never met with her because the young girl was only 11 years old this year.

(The young girls started to go to the academy when they were 12 years old)

The young girl, Xie Ni, smiled brightly at the sight of her brother. "Han Ge, I'm here to meet with you."

"You should just stay at home obediently," Xie Han said helplessly. He passed an apologetic glance to Wei Liuying. "I'm sorry. My sister is a little naughty, so she comes here to see me."

"It's fine. Young children should be able to play a lot and not be restricted by the adult's words so much," Wei Liuying replied with a smile. However, there was no mirth within her eyes as she understood what these two were trying to do.

She was only 14 years old while Xie Ni was 11 years old. When she turned 20 later, Xie Ni would only be 17 years old. While it might not be the most ideal age to get married for young ladies, it was still within an acceptable range because she was waiting for the man.

After all, Wei Liuying knew that it was impossible for them to forget telling the second daughter to not coming here when they already knew that she and Yang Xian would come. Would they make their daughter wait for hours in the carriage? Unless they were like her mother and father, she would think of it as unlikely.

Even if Xie Ni was nothing more than a concubine daughter, she would still be of use to Prime Minister Xie if she was to be paired with a good man.

Xie Han's smile stiffened and he bent down to pat his little sister. "Ni'er, this is Strategist Liu. I'm currently accompanying him, so you return back first, ok?"

Xie Ni raised her head and smiled sweetly in Wei Liuying's direction. "Xie Ni greets Big Brother Strategist Liu."

Wei Liuying looked at Xie Ni and nodded slowly. Most people from Xie Family seemed to have higher intelligence than most other people. She had to make sure that she was being careful enough around them in the future.

Only Xie Jing seemed more normal.

After that short greeting, Xie Ni turned around and returned back to the carriage. On the other hand, Wei Liuying walked around in the garden once more.

"Official Han."

"Ah, yes?"

"Are you knowledgeable about plants too?" Wei Liuying asked as she pointed to the nearby plant. "Do you perhaps know the name?"

Xie Han smiled. It was one of the basic education his father gave to him when he was still young. He nodded lightly. "I know some of them. It'll be my pleasure to talk with Strategist Liu about them."

The two of them continued their conversation that was mostly consisted of Wei Liuying asking about the plants. She didn't have any intention to ask about other things that was related to the politics and so on. Xie Han himself was also a smart young man, so he didn't try to breach into those topics.

They were nothing more than strangers who were wary of each other. There was no need to make the other party their enemies just from this short meeting in the palace today.

"Liu Ying."

Wei Liuying turned her head at the call of her name. Seeing Yang Xian walked with Prime Minister Xie, she smiled lightly. "Have you finished talking, Strategist Yang?"

"I'm done," Yang Xian replied. "Let's go back."

"Ok."

"Would you like me to prepare a carriage for you?"

"Is there any need for something like that?" Wei Liuying shook her head lightly. She was not a disabled. Slowly, she raised her head to look at Prime Minister Xie, "Prime Minister Xie, I'll be taking my leave first."

"Take care, Strategist Liu."

After bidding farewell, they headed to a completely different way. Xie Han was looking as the two strategist walked. From behind, they looked different because of their built and somehow, he had the feeling that the way Liu Ying walked was so similar with a young girl.

'If Liu Ying is a girl, he looks good with Strategist Yang…. What in the world I'm thinking?'

Pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind, Xie Han looked at his father. "Father, I think they found out our real intention?"

"Even if they find out about it, it's fine," Prime Minister Xie replied. "I'll never think that we'll be able to trick them too."

Trying to trick the two extremely talented and smart youngsters who were capable of leading even before they were already an adult… it was something that Prime Minister Xie would never be able to try. From the very first, he already understood that Yang Xian was only giving him face, but he was unwilling to play by their rules.

These geniuses only wanted to play by their rules and bent other people's rules to match theirs.

"Then…"

"They're only giving us face today. The two of them are going to the north soon, so it's unlikely that they'll participate in the upheaval next year," Prime Minister Xie said unhurriedly.

Next year…

Xie Han nodded solemnly. There would be Prince Ji Shu's marriage soon along with many other things that would happen. Whether the princes would try to contend to the throne right away or wait a bit longer, it was still something uncertain. They would need those at the forefront to start making their moves first.

…

- Prince Ji Shu's Residence -

Prince Ji Shu was reading the report and listened to his men giving him detailed events of what had happened in the palace. Because he was not categorized as an adult yet, he couldn't come personally. Of course, he also made it so that his first brother couldn't attend by sending him far away.

"Liu Ying?" Prince Ji Shu asked in a low tone.

"Yes. Strategist Liu's real name is Liu Ying. However, we didn't manage to find any record of a young man with the name Liu Ying in the capital city."

Prince Ji Shu didn't say anything for a moment. He had heard the description for Liu Ying and somehow, there was a sense of trepidation within his heart. An image of a young girl around the age of 14 years old appeared for a split second.

Wei Liuying.

Was their name only a coincidence or…

Thinking about that possibility, Prince Ji Shu's eyes narrowed. Even though the tone that his servant used was different from the word of Wei Liuying's name, he couldn't shake the feelings that the two of them might have been the same person. After all, Wei Liuying disappeared without a trace half a year ago.

'But if they're really the same person, would that timid yet capable girl even shows her face in the limelight like this?'

Prince Ji Shu furrowed his brows. "Prepare a carriage to Wei Family Residence."

"Y..Yes, Your Highness."

Tapping the table, Prince Ji Shu looked into a distance. If they were truly the same person, he had to destroy that strategist.