The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant-Chapter 975: Schemes on All Sides

Xia Houzhe returned to Prince Min Mansion filled with stifled frustration and irritability. Unable to relieve his pent-up emotions, he went to Consort Ji’s room, spent more than an hour there, and then returned to his study and residence.

This episode, when heard by other concubines, caused several of them to sigh plaintively, finding it hard to sleep alone.

Xia Houzhe ordered some wine to be brought, and as he listened to the report from his confidant, he let out a series of cold laughs: "In the end, it’s just lying low, always lying low—a bunch of cowardly rats content to be small mice."

He threw a night-lights cup onto the ground in frustration.

The person kneeling on the ground dared not make a sound.

Xia Houzhe said, "Send another group to intercept Cui Changxiao; don’t let him return to the capital easily."

"Yes." The subordinate responded, then added, "Master, Old Quan sent a message saying that the Bai family seems disobedient. Should we...?"

Xia Houzhe’s face turned green: "Dare she betray me?"

"Not exactly, it’s just that the child on their side seems to waver, and it looks like they are being watched, which may risk exposure. Old Quan seeks your instructions." Women become vulnerable once they are mothers—it’s hard to let go of something that came from your own body.

Xia Houzhe shook his head: "Have the Bai family behave and just focus on winning over that fool Song Zhiqing. As for that old woman, they don’t need to worry about her."

"Understood."

"The Bai family is still somewhat useful for now; don’t act rashly. If they really dare to betray, then deal with it—we might even use her death to stir up that mansion."

The subordinate felt a chill in his heart as he respectfully acknowledged.

Xia Houzhe dismissed him, then paused and called him back: "Arrange for a couple of new faces to guard the small courtyard in the west of the city."

The subordinate was stupefied—that was where Mr. Ning lived, wasn’t it?

"What? Is there a problem?"

"Master, Mr. Ning...?"

Xia Houzhe glanced at him: "Mr. Ning is getting older, and sometimes inevitably gets muddled. I need to see whom he meets—it’s out of concern for his well-being, he mustn’t encounter any trouble."

The subordinate dared not speak further, accepting the order and leaving.

Xia Houzhe pressed his lips together, his face looking somewhat displeased.

However, unbeknownst to him, at this moment, in the small courtyard in the city’s west, the old man had put away the chessboard and was now accompanied by two or three individuals in black robes.

"The young master has grown and doesn’t listen anymore, thinking we old men are useless, cowardly, afraid of death," the old man said with a faint smile.

Black-robed figure A frowned: "The master’s actions are increasingly reckless, like the matter at Song Mansion—it’s simply foolish, achieving nothing but exposing himself, what’s the point? Frankly, even if Madam Song passes and Prime Minister Song must mourn, he could still overcome his grief. Sir, the master’s repeated blunders have only lost the hard-inserted spies with nothing gained. If he continues this muddled behavior, I fear all our years of preparation might be in vain."

The old man slid the sandalwood prayer beads through his fingers and said, "Let’s wait and see; the bloodline left by His Highness isn’t limited to just him."

Black-robed figure B said, "Do you mean the one in the Prince Mansion? But she’s still a woman."

The old man cast B a glance, smiling slightly: "Compared to the master, she holds more noble status, being born from the Crown Princess Consort’s cousin sister rather than a low-born concubine. Should she have the fortune to bear the young master, and we personally guide them, it might not be a bad thing. Even if she can’t bear a child, isn’t there already one available in that mansion?"

Everyone exchanged a glance, each understanding the underlying meaning of those words.

A young master, easier to control.

The current master acts without strategy, driven by irrational whims, appearing almost foolishly wild.

Years of smooth sailing have blinded him to how much groundwork we have laid behind the scenes and how many messes we’ve cleaned up, alas.