Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 205 - 170 Empress Xie’s Fury_2

Empress Xie gritted her teeth and said, "Big brother even hid it from me, truly he is my good brother."

"Indeed, it’s one thing for him to hide it from me, but to even hide it from you." Xie Shi said with shared indignation, "Big brother is really too much."

"Sister, do you think the Emperor sending me to Yangzhou to quell the rebellion was something he discussed with big brother first?" The more Xie Shi thought about it, the more it seemed that way, "They’ve always looked down on me, thinking I can’t quell the chaos in Yangzhou, so they sent me."

Empress Xie glanced at Xie Shi, sighing in frustration, "If you went to Yangzhou and quelled the rebellion, would they dare to look down on you?"

"Sister, it’s not that I don’t want to quell the rebellion, but I..." When Xie Shi mentioned the rebellion in Yangzhou, his heart was filled with resentment.

"Why was Song Dekang able to quell the rebels immediately upon arriving in Yangzhou?" Empress Xie’s chest was filled with anger, "Yet you were outwitted by the rebels for more than half a year?"

"I..." Xie Shi lowered his head, looking extremely aggrieved, "How would I know..."

Empress Xie gave Xie Shi a hateful glare, "Isn’t it because you’re useless?" She was so angry that her head started to hurt. She quickly reached up to rub her forehead.

Seeing Empress Xie rub her forehead, Jiang Chuan knew she had a headache. He quickly moved behind her and began to massage her temples.

After being massaged by Jiang Chuan for a while, Empress Xie felt much better and waved her hand at Jiang Chuan who was standing behind her.

Jiang Chuan nodded and then respectfully retreated.

"Sister, do even you think I’m useless?" Xie Shi didn’t feel aggrieved when others said he was useless, but when Empress Xie said it, he felt especially hurt. From childhood to adulthood, Empress Xie had always encouraged him and never despised him for being dull.

"Aren’t you?" Empress Xie previously had high hopes when the Emperor specifically named Xie Shi to go to Yangzhou to quell the rebellion, thinking he could finally achieve something. She had great expectations for Xie Shi’s success, hoping he would be valued by his big brother and gain some voice in the Xie family. Unexpectedly, after more than half a year in Yangzhou, there was not a single good news. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Empress Xie asked sharply, "Then tell me, why did Song Dekang succeed in capturing Dong Jin and all his rebel party as soon as he arrived in Yangzhou?"

The question left Xie Shi at a loss, "I..."

"It’s because you’re useless." Empress Xie took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, "I shouldn’t have counted on you."

"Sister, please don’t say that, I just didn’t prove useful this time, I’m still of use..." Xie Shi looked pitiably at Empress Xie, "I still want to help you."

Empress Xie’s heart softened at her brother’s pitiful look, her expression calmed a lot.

"You didn’t succeed in quelling the rebellion in Yangzhou this time, the Emperor won’t give you another chance."

"Really?" Xie Shi said, "This time going to Yangzhou to quell the rebellion was clearly a trap."

Empress Xie didn’t continue to discuss this matter with Xie Shi, "Return and call big brother over, I want to have a serious talk with him." The words "talk" were said with particular emphasis.

"Sister, you certainly should speak with him." Thinking of how big brother never let them know what he was up to, Xie Shi felt frustrated and aggrieved. "It’s one thing for him not to tell me, but he can’t keep it from you."

"Go and call him now."

"Okay, I’ll go back right away." Thinking about how big brother was going to be scolded by Empress Xie later, Xie Shi felt very happy.

With a heart full of glee, Xie Shi returned to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, "Big brother, sister wants to see you, go right away."

Duke Zhen looked at Xie Shi’s gloating face, easily guessing what he had said to Empress Xie, and understood why she had called him to the palace.

Too lazy to deal with his childish younger brother, Duke Zhen changed into court attire and prepared to see Empress Xie.

Xie Shi personally escorted Duke Zhen to the door, "Big brother, good luck."

Duke Zhen was so amused by Xie Shi’s joyful demeanor that he chuckled. He gave Xie Shi a look, then turned and got into the carriage.

After Duke Zhen left, Xie Shi suddenly thought of something and regretfully patted his forehead. He should have gone with his brother to witness Empress Xie’s scolding.

Why was he so stupid to miss such a good opportunity? Now, trying to follow him into the palace was surely out of the question.

Xie Shi returned to his courtyard with a dejected heart.

Jiang Chuan was waiting at the gate of Zhao Yang Palace for Duke Zhen. Seeing him arrive, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him and performed a salute.

"Duke, Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for you."

Duke Zhen nodded lightly, then followed Jiang Chuan into Zhao Yang Palace.

Seeing Empress Xie, Duke Zhen respectfully bowed, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Empress Xie gestured to a chair nearby with a calm tone, "Sit."

Jiang Chuan brought a cup of hot tea, "Duke, please have some tea." After speaking, he backed out of the room.

Duke Zhen did not drink the tea, he raised his gaze to Empress Xie seated above, speaking straightforwardly, "You summoned me for the matter of Yangzhou, right?"

"You knew full well that Xie Shi going to Yangzhou to quell the rebellion was a setup, why didn’t you tell me?" Empress Xie glared at Duke Zhen, her face sullen, "Big brother, do you still consider me your sister?"

"At first, I didn’t know the Emperor sending Xie Shi to Yangzhou was a setup." Duke Zhen said earnestly, "It was only after I saw Xie Shi’s delayed success that I realized it was a trap."

Empress Xie didn’t believe a word from Duke Zhen, she smirked coldly, "You can only fool Xie Shi with that lie." Her gaze suddenly turned piercing, "You knew from the moment the Emperor named Xie Shi to go quell the rebellion that there was something fishy about Yangzhou."

"Xie Shi spent over half a year in Yangzhou without success, and you didn’t say a word." Empress Xie realized Duke Zhen’s odd behavior when she heard about the Yangzhou affair, understanding he knew long ago it was a trap. "With your temperament, if Xie Shi hadn’t succeeded in three months, you would have sent someone to aid him. But you didn’t."

Facing the accusation, Duke Zhen didn’t show any embarrassment or awkwardness. He remained composed, "Since you know, why ask further questions?"

Seeing Duke Zhen’s nonchalant attitude, Empress Xie could barely contain her rage, "Big brother!"

Jiang Chuan and the others guarding the door shuddered at Empress Xie’s outburst. Yet Duke Zhen remained calm.

"Why are you so furious?"

"Big brother, why didn’t you tell me?" Empress Xie’s face was as dark as water, "Did you find it amusing to toy with me and Xie Shi?"

"Toy with you?" Duke Zhen looked at his angry sister and chuckled lightly, "How did I toy with you?"

"You knew full well..." Empress Xie trailed off and didn’t continue.

"I know your intentions for sending Xie Shi to quell the rebellion." Duke Zhen completed Empress Xie’s unspoken words, "If I had told you it was a trap, wouldn’t you have been disappointed?"

Having her thoughts laid bare, Empress Xie’s face contorted slightly in anguish.

"Since you know everything, why... Big brother, I am your real sister!"

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