154: The princess's new plan!
As for her, she had become a narrow-minded, impulsive, and low-handed madwoman.
If this continued, her father would surely be disappointed in her, and the officials in court would distance themselves from her.
"Hehe..."
The corners of the woman's mouth in the mirror slowly curled into an eerie arc.
"Crown Prince Xia Yuan, Li Qing..."
"Do you really think you've won just like that?"
"You have thought far too little of me, Xia Qingyue."
She slowly stood up, a light flickering within those cold phoenix eyes.
Schemes? I have plenty.
Next, I'll have a good time playing with you!
If the hard approach doesn't work, then I'll use the soft approach.
If I can't beat you in the open, then I will set a death trap for you in the shadows that you can never escape from!
She wanted them to know just how terrifying the revenge of a woman pushed to her limits could be!
"Old Chen."
She called out softly to the empty room.
"Your Highness."
Old Chen's figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost and bowed.
A trace of worry lingered on his face.
He could feel that although the Grand Princess appeared calm, a more turbulent and dangerous undercurrent was hidden beneath that surface.
"Go, invite Vice Minister Liu to see me."
Xia Qingyue's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
"Yes." Old Chen didn't ask further and merged back into the shadows, disappearing... Half an hour later, Liu Xing, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, arrived secretly at the Grand Princess's palace.
His appearance at this moment was somewhat haggard.
That kneeling in front of his residence's gate during the day was a lifelong humiliation for him.
Not only had he completely lost face, but it also cast a shadow over the entire faction behind him.
He hated it!
He hated that brat named Li Qing to the bone!
He hated his disappointing, useless son even more!
Therefore, when Old Chen sought him out, he originally hadn't wanted to come.
But he didn't dare not to come.
His official position, his power, his everything—all of it was tied firmly to the Grand Princess's ship.
They would prosper together or fall together.
His own son had caused both the Liu Family and the Grand Princess to be affected!
"This humble official, Liu Xing, greets Your Highness."
Liu Xing walked into the bedchamber and bowed to the beautiful figure whose back was turned to him.
"Lord Liu, no need for such formalities."
Xia Qingyue slowly turned around, a trace of reassurance on her face.
"Don't take yesterday's matter to heart; you have been wronged."
Hearing this, Liu Xing was instantly moved.
"Your Highness overstates it. It was my unworthy son who failed to share your burdens; it was my dereliction of duty."
"Hehe, Lord Liu, enough. Since the matter has already happened, we need to make amends." Xia Qingyue walked over to him, her cold eyes staring directly into his heart.
"I know you hate. I know you are unwilling."
"I am the same."
"That Li Qing, and my dear brother... the humiliation they gave us must be returned twofold!"
Xia Qingyue's voice was filled with a seductive, magical power.
Liu Xing's breathing hitched slightly.
He looked up at Xia Qingyue's calm face and asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, what is your plan?"
He knew that this Grand Princess was definitely not someone who would give up easily.
"In a head-on confrontation, we have already lost." Xia Qingyue's voice became cold.
"That Li Qing is a monster, a madman. Sending assassins is just one method."
"And my dear brother now treats him like a treasure, protecting him tightly. We have no chance to strike."
Upon hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed in Liu Xing's eyes.
"Then Your Highness means..."
"So, we need to change the way we play."
The corners of Xia Qingyue's mouth curled into a sinister arc.
"Why use a blade to kill a person?"
"Sometimes, destroying the heart is more effective than killing the person."
She slowly walked to the table, picked up a brush, and wrote two words on a piece of white paper.
Martial Selection.
"The Great Xia Martial Selection still has one final round: the Arena Championship."
"This will be our best stage."
Liu Xing looked at those two words, his brow furrowed, seemingly not understanding her meaning.
"I have already investigated." Xia Qingyue's voice was like a snake's hiss.
"That Li Qing, although powerful, has a fatal weakness."
"He is too arrogant."
"He doesn't care about anyone and acts without restraint, entirely based on his whims."
"Such a person is easiest to manipulate and easiest to commit an irreversible mistake."
A light of wisdom flickered in Xia Qingyue's eyes.
This was also her own flaw.
But fortunately, she had discovered it and made timely adjustments!
"Lord Liu, you are the Vice Minister of Personnel, in charge of all officials. And one of the chief examiners for this Martial Selection happens to be your student, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Wang Chong, correct?"
Liu Xing's heart skipped a beat!
He instantly understood Xia Qingyue's meaning!
"Your Highness means to manipulate the rules of the arena match?"
"Clever."
Xia Qingyue nodded approvingly.
"A one-on-one arena match is too easy for him."
"What I want is to let him sink into the vast ocean of group warfare!"
"Have Wang Chong propose to my father to change the rules of the final round."
"Say that in order to better select true all-around talents, the final round will be changed to a 'Defend the Ring' battle!"
"Let Li Qing be the first to take the stage as the defender!"
"Anyone can challenge him! A battle of attrition! An endless war of attrition!"
"At the same time, spread the word that whoever can defeat him will not only receive a reward from me but also get the full recommendation of the Residence of the Vice Minister of Personnel, ensuring a successful future career!"
"I'd like to see if Li Qing, no matter how strong he is, can beat ten people or a hundred people?"
"This Great Xia Martial Competition is full of experts; he won't be able to finish them all!"
"He isn't some monster with infinite stamina, is he?"
"As long as he shows fatigue, as long as he makes a mistake, we will then arrange for our true trump card to take the stage and deliver the fatal blow!"
"At that time, in front of hundreds of thousands of people and in front of my dear brother, we will thoroughly trample him under our feet!"
"Let him be completely ruined!"
Listening to Xia Qingyue's incredibly vicious plan, a terrifying light erupted in Liu Xing's eyes!
What a brilliant plan!
What a stroke of killing the person by destroying the heart!
An overt plot!
A killing move against Li Qing that was placed on the table for everyone to see!
When that time came, even if the Crown Prince wanted to protect him, he would have no way to intervene!
Because all of this would be conducted under the 'fair' rules of the Martial Selection!
"Your Highness is brilliant!"
Liu Xing bowed deeply to Xia Qingyue; this time, it was heartfelt admiration.
"This official will go and handle it immediately!"