novelraw Chapter 1452 - 1536: Changing Strategies
Chapter 1452 - 1536: Changing Strategies
The next day, the Ninth Princess brought that person to apologize, saying it was a misunderstanding. Qinghe did not pursue the matter not because he was magnanimous, but because he knew in his heart that the Ninth Princess was inherently biased. Regardless of whether it made sense or not, whether it was right or wrong, in her heart, her good dog was always right, always correct, and could not tolerate even a single word of criticism from others.
This so-called apology visit was nothing more than a formality.
Since then, Qinghe redoubled his efforts, wracking his brain to attract the Ninth Princess’s attention, only to be repeatedly warned by that loyal dog. Even though the man was ugly, whenever he got angry, his eyes seemed to burn with flames, full of spirit and energy, and Qinghe couldn’t help but have his attention drawn away by him.
He even felt,
If one overlooked the man’s facial features, his stubborn and obstinate nature turned out to be a bit adorably silly.
The turning point occurred a month later.
Mother Xiao had been monitoring his progress, seeing it as slow. It was unclear whether he really lacked charm, was using the wrong approach, or if the Ninth Princess simply disliked his type. In any case, the Ninth Princess was indifferent towards him.
Thus, mother and son held another secret meeting, shifting their target from the Ninth Princess to her ’good dog’.
Mother Xiao said, "That Dong Baowei, although an orphan, was once kidnapped with His Highness Ninth as a child. She has a debt of gratitude towards him and is His Highness Ninth’s right-hand person, in charge of his Secret Department, and the person he trusts the most."
"Even if revealed to be just a servant, if His Highness Ninth ascends to the throne one day, it is foreseeable that this servant could soar to great heights."
As for Qinghe’s true feelings, he actually rejected these matters. In Dayuan’s context of female superiority and male inferiority, perhaps some men were willing to sell themselves for family or personal gain, but Qinghe was not one of them.
He was not without dignity, nor without pride, only better at enduring because he knew. Even if he did not do these things himself, Mother Xiao would target his second and third brothers.
Frankly, there were many dark secrets in a large family, and the relationship between mother and son was not purely affectionate. How much planning and use took place, and whether he was being used as a pawn in his own mother’s power struggles, he was well aware.
But he was the eldest son!
The second and third brothers were not fit for this heavy responsibility.
Since he was born into the Xiao family and raised by the Xiao family, making sacrifices for the Xiao family was his duty and obligation. As long as the Xiao family could be preserved, by any means necessary, dirty or foul, it was all worth it.
However, when the target shifted from the Ninth Princess to Dong Baowei, at that time he only felt a sense of relief. Yet he did not realize then that he did not actually reject Dong Baowei. He rejected the Ninth Princess and other women, but not that little jester.
He didn’t know what this meant, and when he found out later, it was already too late.
Following Mother Xiao’s instructions, he no longer pestered the Ninth Princess, but always appeared in Dong Baowei’s line of sight. He particularly liked to tease her and enjoyed seeing her angry. As the eldest son of the Xiao family, since he was sensible, he learned to be mature and master the art of strategy.
But during that time, Ah Lian and the other Hidden Guards who always followed him privately remarked that his smiles seemed to be increasing day by day.
There was a significant change in him; he no longer drank whenever he had free time, nor did he associate with his former disreputable friends. Instead, he became fascinated with sparring with Dong Baowei.