Chapter 7: Trusted Adviser? I’ll Be Taking That
Before officially preparing to take over the intelligence sources in the capital, Yu Lingzhao suddenly thought of something mentioned in the book.
Xiao Ning’an was able to become Emperor not because he was particularly outstanding himself, but because he had too much assistance around him.
Setting everything else aside, the benefits provided by the original host’s love brain were obvious enough, the daughter of the Prince of Zhennan who held military power, and a maternal grandfather who was a world-renowned grand scholar.
This was equivalent to capturing both the civil officials and the military generals in one fell swoop.
Anyone with this kind of configuration was basically destined to be Emperor, right?
But in addition to the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion and Prime Minister Cui’s Mansion, Xiao Ning’an also had a strategist hidden behind the scenes.
Some of the most ingenious and brilliant schemes were all that person’s ideas; Xiao Ning’an simply followed advice and reaped the huge rewards.
Yu Lingzhao couldn't help but feel her blood boiling as she thought about it. She could play that role too, she was definitely going to snatch this bargain for herself.
She recalled the original text of the novel she had read.
At this point in time, Xiao Ning’an hadn't even had the chance to meet his military strategist yet.
Excellent.
It’s for the best that they don't meet.
What "Xiao Ning’an’s strategist"?
Soon, he’ll be Yu Lingzhao’s man.
If it weren't for Xiao Ning’an saving this person's life, given his personality, he likely wouldn't have looked highly upon a master like Xiao Ning’an anyway.
For no other reason than this person was far too intelligent, and for someone like Xiao Ning’an, who was only averagely smart and occasionally acted clever in a self-defeating way, he had a bit of stupidity intolerance.
Yu Xunyang happened to come looking for his sister just as Yu Lingzhao was feeling delighted.
Seeing Yu Xunyang, she immediately said, "Third Brother, let’s go. We’re going to Huguo Temple right now."
No sooner said than done. Yu Lingzhao immediately had Feiwu give her a disguise. This face was too beautiful; she would be recognized at a single glance.
As County Princess Mingzhu was supposed to be recovering from injuries at the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion, Yu Lingzhao naturally had to change her appearance to go out.
Yu Lingzhao stepped out wearing the clothes of a female guard while Yu Xunyang waited for her in the courtyard.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he looked back and didn't even recognize it was Yu Lingzhao at first.
Seeing the look of strangeness in her brother's eyes, Yu Lingzhao laughed and turned to Feiwu, saying, "Third Brother's expression proves that your skill is truly excellent, Feiwu."
"Zhaozhao!?" Yu Xunyang only reacted once he heard Yu Lingzhao’s voice.
Yu Lingzhao nodded repeatedly and prepared to pull Yu Xunyang toward the exit. "It’s me. It’s not convenient for me to go out with my current identity, so this is much better."
Yu Xunyang was still a bit worried about his sister’s injuries. Yu Lingzhao almost couldn't budge him; she looked back at him with eyes full of confusion: "Third Brother?"
Yu Xunyang didn't speak, but simply looked at her forehead. Yu Lingzhao understood, when he was unhappy, he didn't talk much; he’d just give a look.
If you got the message, you got it; otherwise, Third Brother would start sulking.
Yu Lingzhao felt like teasing him. Raising an eyebrow, she said deliberately, "Is Third Brother not going? Then I’ll just go by myself."
As she spoke, she strode toward the exit. Yu Xunyang was startled and quickly followed.
Only then did Yu Lingzhao say, "Third Brother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. If the injury were serious, I naturally wouldn't act recklessly."
Yu Lingzhao understood Yu Xunyang, and Yu Xunyang similarly understood his sister’s temperament; if she said she was going to do something, she was going to do it.
Since he couldn't stop her anyway, following her would at least allow him to protect her.
Yu Xunyang followed Yu Lingzhao wordlessly. Yu Lingzhao casually stuffed the maltose candy that Huaping had given her that morning into his hand, treating him like she was coaxing a child.
Yu Xunyang didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he had realized that Zhaozhao was currently treating him exactly like a kid.
As for going to Huguo Temple, Yu Lingzhao wasn't certain she could find Shangguan Bai this time; she mainly wanted to go and try her luck.
However, her luck had always been good, and this time should be no exception.
The reason Xiao Ning’an was able to obtain Shangguan Bai’s help was that he had accidentally saved Shangguan Bai’s mother.
Speaking of which, the original novel vaguely mentioned Shangguan Bai’s background: he came from the Shangguan clan, a fallen aristocratic family.
His mother was the daughter of a physician, and his father was unknown.
The Shangguan clan had always been extremely harsh toward the three of them; the grandfather, mother, and son.
As soon as Shangguan Bai’s maternal grandfather died, they seized the family property and kicked the two of them out.
It was in the middle of a freezing winter, and the mother and son nearly froze to death.
To support herself and her son, Shangguan Bai’s mother could only do laundry for others to make a living.
She was then bullied by malicious neighbors, forcing her to jump into a river in the dead of winter to survive; though she was rescued, she was left with a chronic illness.
Shangguan Bai took his mother and moved to the vicinity of the capital, relying on transcribing books to earn a little money to live.
But Shangguan Qingshuang’s health declined day by day, and the silver Shangguan Bai earned from transcribing was truly a drop in the bucket, it wasn't nearly enough to save his mother’s life.
With great difficulty, they waited for Huguo Temple to hold its monthly free clinic, but how could a penniless Shangguan Bai afford the high treatment costs and rare ginseng?
It just so happened that Xiao Ning’an came to Huguo Temple to pray for a peace talisman for the original host.
Seeing a frail young man hiding in the back mountains in deep grief, and wanting to maintain his image of being charitable and kind, he decisively solved the man's problem and even gave him a rare century-old ginseng.
This young man was, of course, Shangguan Bai. Shangguan Qingshuang’s life was saved, although she passed away a few years later anyway.
However, those few years of the mother and son depending on each other made Shangguan Bai exceptionally grateful to Xiao Ning’an. If it hadn't been for Xiao Ning’an, Shangguan Bai likely wouldn't have survived either.
After all, the mother and son had suffered through endless hardships, and both were in poor health.
If Shangguan Qingshuang had died, it was not impossible that Shangguan Bai would have followed her in his grief.
According to the book, at this point in time, Shangguan Bai had already been living in a village near Huguo Temple for several years.
Currently, Shangguan Bai still had no money, and the monthly free clinic at Huguo Temple had already begun.
Yu Lingzhao thought for a moment and said to Yu Xunyang, "Third Brother, when we get to Huguo Temple, go find the Abbot and say that you want to pray for my blessings. Cover all the medical and pharmaceutical costs for the first ten people at the free clinic for the next three months."
Shangguan Bai had very little money and was very filial; he always came to line up early for the monthly free clinics, and the masters at Huguo Temple all knew him.
Yu Lingzhao wanted to establish a connection with Shangguan Bai, but since he hadn't reached a point of total desperation yet, she naturally had to choose a better way to make her entrance.
After listening to Yu Lingzhao, Yu Xunyang nodded in agreement. "Alright. I already intended to pray for your blessings anyway."
Knowing her Third Brother was still worried about her, Yu Lingzhao felt a warmth in her heart.
In her previous life, her family ties had been severed; the feeling of being cared for by an older brother like this was truly wonderful.
"Thank you, Third Brother. I knew you were the best to me," Yu Lingzhao gave him a sweet smile.
Yu Xunyang was already a devoted sister-con; hearing his sister act so coquettishly toward him, how could he possibly resist?
"You are my only younger sister. If I'm not good to you, who would I be good to?"
Yu Lingzhao was all smiles when suddenly the carriage came to a halt. It was said that something seemed to have happened up ahead.
Before Yu Lingzhao could even ask, Guan Xiao returned from investigating. He said it was a mother and son who had come to Huguo Temple to seek medical help; the mother's body was too weak, and she had fainted.
Yu Lingzhao was stunned.
No way?
Is her luck really this good?
Meeting them just like that?
As soon as the thought arose, she immediately shook her head to cast it aside.
Sinful, sinful, she wasn't exactly wishing for something bad to happen to Shangguan Qingshuang.
However, Yu Lingzhao’s intuition told her that this mother and son must be Shangguan Qingshuang and Shangguan Bai.
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