Quick Transmigration: Vicious Female Side Character Role-play Plan

[You seem to be in a bad mood lately?]

Since returning from the winter hunt, Jiang Xin Ren had confined herself to her palace and refused to come out. Whenever someone came to ask, she only said that she was frightened and weak, and was focusing on recuperating.

In fact, she would sneak out of Listening Rain Pavilion every day and find a pavilion with no human traces to seek peace and quiet.

“How could I not be happy?” Jiang Xin Ren leaned lazily against the pavilion pillar, her needle and thread moving slowly, embroidering in a twisted and crooked manner.

“I’ve been promoted in rank, the position of Zhaoyi is within reach, and completing the task is now as easy as taking something from a bag. I’m very happy.”

086: … If you smiled, it might just believe you.

[You’ve been using the excuse of recuperating, but you’re not in the palace every day. If the Emperor finds out…]

“I’m only here to do the task. Do you expect me to really be like the people of this dynasty, treating the husband as the heaven and the Emperor as the revered one?”

She had come here to seek peace and quiet, but 086 was nagging in her ear day after day, irritating even her good temper.

“If you still want to get along well, keep your mouth shut, and don’t point fingers at me.”

During this period of interaction, Jiang Xin Ren’s emotions were always calm. Except for that one time when she expressed her dislike for the Emperor, revealing a hint of disgust, she was usually nonchalant.

And now…

086 obediently closed its mouth, afraid of truly angering her and causing her to do something crazy. If this world was fundamentally shaken (the male and female leads died), it would also suffer a huge impact and might even be destroyed.

With the host’s meager conscience and morals, don’t doubt it. She was definitely capable of doing it, 086 thought sadly.

————————

“My lord, Minister Li is here to visit, saying he has important matters to discuss.”

In the spacious study filled with a large collection of books, the owner stood before a bookshelf, holding a book and quietly reading as if not hearing anything.

The guard didn’t dare disturb the Prime Minister and lowered his head, awaiting orders.

“Minister Li?” After a long while, Zhuang He Ming closed the book scroll and sat behind the desk, saying in a flat tone, “Let him come.”

Minister Li waited impatiently in the front hall. After a long time, he finally saw the steward of the Prime Minister’s residence enter and say:

“Minister, the Prime Minister invites you for a conversation. Please proceed to the study.”

“Good, good,” Minister Li responded repeatedly, led by the steward into the study.

Without waiting for Minister Li to salute and flatter him, Zhuang He Ming directly asked him, “You said you have important matters to discuss with me. What is it?”

Minister Li originally wanted to get close to him, but when faced with the Prime Minister’s cold and indifferent eyes, the flattering words got stuck in his throat.

After contemplating for a moment, he smiled and said, “Lord Zhuang, this subordinate is here to propose a marriage for my younger daughter.”

The study fell into silence. Standing in the corner, the guard responsible for protecting the Prime Minister’s safety showed an expression of disbelief.

They didn’t know whether to ridicule Minister Li for his wild imagination or praise him for his commendable courage.

“I seem to have publicly announced that I will not take a wife or concubine,” Zhuang He Ming said with an indifferent expression, his gaze devoid of warmth as he looked at Minister Li. “Why do you think I would agree?”

Minister Li had risen from a humble background to the position of Minister. The hardships he had endured along the way were imaginable. He was not someone foolish enough not to see clearly.

The current Grand Tutor had taken a liking to Zhuang He Ming’s outstanding talent and discussed with him unsuccessfully. He then requested an imperial decree from the Emperor to arrange a marriage. Thinking it was set in stone, the Grand Tutor’s mansion even began preparing the wedding attire for his legitimate daughter to marry the Prime Minister. Unexpectedly, Zhuang He Ming had said with an expressionless face:

“If it’s not someone I love, if you insist on making me marry, you might as well bestow death upon this subject.”

Although the Emperor was very angry at his defiance of the imperial decree, in the end, he had no choice but to back down.

After all, Zhuang He Ming had supported him in ascending to the throne and had relied on him for so many years. With the Prime Minister by his side, his imperial position was stable.

And now, Minister Li, who was the best at reading people’s expressions, dared to mention marriage to him. Such a bold move must have some confidence behind it.

Only gratitude and leverage could give someone confidence, and he never owed anyone gratitude.

So…

“What leverage do you have on me?” His slender index finger tapped on the desktop, bringing endless pressure.

Minister Li immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He had only been in the study for a quarter of an hour, and before he could even say what he wanted to say, his intentions had been seen through. For a moment, his legs trembled, and he felt timid.

But when he thought of the situation at his residence, his legal wife was the daughter of an imperial merchant. She was unable to provide any assistance other than gold, silver, and jewels;

His legitimate son was useless, spending his days outside chasing cats and dogs, unable to handle important tasks;

His legitimate daughter was stunningly beautiful and had entered the palace as Consort De, but during the winter hunt, she had caused a great disaster and was despised by His Majesty. Now, only his second legitimate daughter…

But what use was a good daughter? Once he resigned, there would be no one to support the Vice Minister’s mansion!

There was no dead end in life. Just as he was feeling desperate, he had actually grasped the Prime Minister’s weakness!

Minister Li wiped away his cold sweat and smiled, “Prime Minister, you are indeed insightful as a god.”

“During the recent winter hunt, when His Majesty was resting at the camp, he was actually attacked by a swarm of bees. Everyone said it was Consort De’s fault, but this subordinate doesn’t think that’s the case.”

Winter hunt? Zhuang He Ming’s tapping fingers stopped. He knew what Minister Li meant by leverage.

After the swarm of bees was driven away, while the Emperor despised Consort De, he also had some doubts. Was it simply caused by the improper fighting for favor among the concubines in the rear palace?

Or was someone using Consort De’s hand to secretly harm the Emperor?

So he ordered Zhuang He Ming to thoroughly investigate the matter.

He found the wooden box used by Consort De to capture the butterflies, and within it, there were barely discernible clues pointing to that person.

Or perhaps he had already known in his heart, so when he saw these subtle clues, he immediately understood.

In the end, he disposed of the wooden box and did not report the matter to the Emperor.

It seemed that someone had seen it at that time.

“So, what do you want to do?” Zhuang He Ming’s sharp gaze looked at Minister Li.

“Prime Minister, you are a young talent. Back then, in the previous Emperor’s palace examination, you should have been the top scholar, but the title of the top scholar was replaced by someone else. This subordinate truly feels regretful for you,” Minister Li said.

“Now, His Majesty even wants to follow the previous Emperor’s actions. Fortunately, you were wise and dissuaded him in time. The imperial examination system is the foundation of the country. Shaking the fairness of the imperial examination is not the act of a wise ruler.

Now that the Second Prince has grown up, although he is weak and sickly, with the Prime Minister by his side to support him, the Great Zhou will surely become even more prosperous!”

After saying these treasonous words with a trembling heart, Minister Li raised his head to look at the Prime Minister’s expression. Indeed, there was no anger, only an indifferent and uncaring look. His heart was delighted, and he continued:

“This subordinate’s influence is small, but I can lend a helping hand to the Prime Minister.”

Minister Li knew very well that his mansion had already been despised by the Emperor. He had to find a new backing for himself!

His Majesty was secretly harmed, and the Prime Minister knew but didn’t report it. Didn’t this indicate that the Prime Minister was behind it?

Zhuang He Ming stood up and walked to the window, his voice calm, not knowing if he agreed or not: “Send the Minister out.”

Before Minister Li could anxiously say a few more words, the guard blocked his way, smiling without sincerity: “Minister Li, please.”

After Minister Li reluctantly left, Zhuang He Ming showed a slight helplessness and mocked himself: “Instead, I ruined her plan.”

Jiang Xin Ren hadn’t sent someone to dispose of the wooden box, knowing that even if evidence remained, it couldn’t be traced back to her. Instead, he had brought trouble upon himself.

He reached out and tapped on the window frame. A black shadow flashed by, and a person immediately appeared behind him.

“Go and investigate whether Minister Li has been widely spreading this matter in the Minister’s mansion. If…”

If only he alone knew about it, then only he would die;

If the entire mansion was aware of this matter, then the Vice Minister’s mansion would be seized, and everyone would be exiled.

The secret guard clasped his hands and disappeared in a flash.

Translator’s Note: I hate when these men are like ohhhh noooo, my wife can only give me money. Meanwhile, the funds the wives provide are what allowed them to rise up and bribe people. :/