Free Web NovelChapter 1073: Chapter 1063: Four Steps (Part 3)
Xiqiu knew that when First Master Qin won the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ bid back then, he had been exclusively supplying tribute through Count Dingyuan’s connections. The two houses had been secretly associated, and even the expenses of Count Dingyuan’s household and Princess Consort Ying’s palace in the past two years came from Xuan Hall.
If it weren’t for Qin Yuanfeng, they naturally wouldn’t have cared about Xuan Hall’s affairs. Now that they knew, they certainly had to inform Qin Yuanfeng.
"Understood," Xiqiu nodded in agreement. "I will write a letter later, and you can have Tianjing deliver it."
Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly. At this moment, Tiancheng reported from outside the door: "Fourth Master, Marquis Jinxiang and Lord Qian are here."
"Hmm," Fourth Master Xiao greeted Xiqiu and then went to the outer courtyard.
"Old Fourth," Qian Zhong greeted Fourth Master Xiao with a smile as he entered. "It’s a shame you weren’t here today. Count Dingyuan’s face turned green."
Fourth Master Xiao and Marquis Jinxiang exchanged fist salutes and sat down opposite each other. Fourth Master Xiao showed no extra expression and merely asked, "How is the witness now?" Marquis Jinxiang replied, "Living in the villa west of Qian Zhong’s city, as you instructed, surrounded by guards. There won’t be any mistakes."
Without waiting for Fourth Master Xiao to speak, Qian Zhong waved his hand with a smile, saying, "There’s no need for such elaborate measures. With Chen Hui’s mind, we can suppress him with a single finger. Besides, how could he anticipate we would investigate that matter."
Fourth Master Xiao took a sip of tea, looked up at Qian Zhong, and said in a deep voice, "Count Dingyuan isn’t the tricky one; the difficult part is the Emperor." Hearing this, Qian Zhong’s smile faded. In the past two years, the Emperor’s temperament had been unpredictable, especially this year, making it even harder to grasp. Although this matter appeared seamless on the surface, anyone with insight into court politics knew that Count Dingyuan supported the Second Prince for the Crown Prince position. Eliminating them would effectively render the Second Prince powerless. Whether the Emperor notices it isn’t important; what’s crucial is ensuring that even if he does, he can’t harbor resentment against them or Min.
Qian Zhong said, "As long as we eliminate Count Dingyuan, whether the Second Prince remains is no longer important. In my opinion, we should provide the Emperor a way out." Handling matters related to Count Dingyuan requires justification, deposing Princess Consort Ying requires justification, and exiling the Second Prince requires justification. Although some things are clear, they still need a legitimate and grand reason to proceed.
"In these coming days, refrain from visiting Marquis Taiping," Fourth Master Xiao advised. The Emperor’s anger towards Count Dingyuan partially stemmed from his overly conspicuous actions. The matter of selecting a consort for the Prince is subject to individual interpretation of the Emperor’s will; it can be guessed but not openly spoken. He continued, "Someone else will give us the staircase; we need not provide it ourselves."
Qian Zhong, listening, brightened his eyes and asked, "Marquis Taiping?" Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly. Qian Zhong happily punched Fourth Master Xiao’s shoulder, saying, "Good old Fourth, I was worrying about this last night. Since you have already calculated it, why didn’t you inform me earlier?"
Fourth Master Xiao did not react, simply continuing to sip his tea. Marquis Jinxiang coughed into his fist, reminding Qian Zhong, who merely curled his mouth without taking further action.
"His Highness has been frequenting the Imperial Study Room these past days," Marquis Jinxiang remarked with a smile. "In my opinion, the Emperor now shows even more love and trust towards His Highness than before."
Qian Zhong nodded in agreement with a smile.
Princess Consort Ying had invited her sister-in-law to the palace and immediately unleashed a relentless scolding, "Deciding things on your own without discussing them with me first. Now look, not only have we got nothing, but you’ve also handed evidence to others!" She was so enraged she could barely speak.
Madam Chen felt genuinely wronged: "...I didn’t expect Marquis Taiping to be so difficult." Their intentions were good as if they married off their sister to Marquis Taiping, no matter how the deal was calculated, it would be profitable.
"Even if you didn’t know Marquis Taiping would be difficult, you should understand the consequences of this matter. Right now, the most crucial thing is ensuring Marquis Taiping sides with us." Princess Consort Ying glared, full of anger with nowhere to vent.
Madam Chen pouted; if they didn’t know this, why would they want to send their sister to Marquis Taiping?
"Furthermore," Princess Consort Ying angrily declared, "When my brother went to Taiping, he clearly encountered water bandits, so how did it suddenly turn out that he killed innocent citizens?" She truly couldn’t fathom where the accusation came from that the people her brother encountered at the riverbank were merely common folk seeking passage, leading to a dispute and a physical altercation. Others claimed her brother falsely reported the truth and deceived the Emperor, turning what should have been a joyful event into their liability.
Furthermore, that Ruan Bosong, who was originally involved, has now washed his hands of it, which is truly shameless.
"Your elder brother didn’t know either." Speaking of this matter, Madam Chen broke out in a cold sweat: "He said at that time those people emerged from underwater, that he led men up the mountain to eliminate the Water Ghost’s stronghold, how did it turn into innocent citizens?" There was even a witness; they really couldn’t understand.
Princess Consort Ying’s face changed upon hearing this, suddenly realizing a problem...
Could they have fallen into someone else’s trap?
She shuddered and broke out in cold sweat, waving her hand at Madam Chen, "You should go back and discuss this matter with my brother to resolve it, then come and inform me in the palace." She paused then continued, "And locate that witness, ensure they don’t succeed."
Madam Chen complied. As Princess Consort Ying seemed to remember something, she called back Madam Chen, "Go find Third Sister, have her reach out to Lord Tong for help, regardless of the methods she uses."
"Understood, she’s a smart person, she knows what to do," Madam Chen agreed and promptly left the palace.
Count Dingyuan was in his mansion discussing matters with his advisors, secretly seeking allied ministers who had connections with Shen Mansion to hopefully prevent the looming impeachment against him.
Outside the palace at the Imperial Mausoleum, surrounded by Xiao Lingwei guards, the Second Prince stood alone in the corridor, gazing at the vast and majestic mausoleum with cold determination in his eyes. If not for the support of his grandmother and mother, his father would not have ascended the throne smoothly, and despite what his grandmother and mother sacrificed for him, his father turned ruthless and suppressed the Shen clan to such a degree... Recalling his month of mourning at the mausoleum, others praised his filial piety, yet his father not only failed to give any encouraging words, but did not even see him.
Chilled to the core, he no longer felt any concern. The father-son bond was severed the day his arm was crippled.
He clenched his fist tightly, blue veins bulging, when suddenly a eunuch approached on his left side, whispering a few words in his ear. The Second Prince’s expression changed drastically, "Is this true?"
"I have confirmed it, there’s no mistake," the eunuch replied.
The Second Prince was furious, but due to circumstances, restrained his anger and stormed back to his room. He closed the door and smashed the tea cup and plate on the ground, shouting, "Useless, all useless!"
The eunuch stood silently at the door, not daring to make a sound. After a moment, the Second Prince turned to him, angrily commanded, "Go bring Chen Hui to me!"
The eunuch complied and retreated with a bow.
