Chapter 654 Kidney Problems

friend?

This word is a bit strange. Wei Lan only knows that Prince Luo and Xu Da are on good terms and both serve in the Five Cities Military Command, but Lord Xu prefers riding horses.

To travel by carriage in broad daylight, so secretive and discreet, and for the Prince of Luo to refuse to let anyone see, could it be that the person inside the carriage is... a male favorite?

Wei Lan thought of this word and wanted to confirm it.

"Where did Young Master Luo go?"

Wei Lan asked the coachman, "The carriage is nearby, and the people shouldn't have gone far."

"Your question has stumped me. My master simply instructed me to drive the carriage and take the passengers for a leisurely stroll."

The coachman was already very impatient, but as a servant, he couldn't very well not answer.

“It’s alright. Since Young Master Luo isn’t here, we can help take care of Young Master Luo’s…friend.”

Wei Lan emphasized the word "friends" because her sister had always wanted to find something to use against Luo Wang and lure people to her side. If she could find out that Luo Wang kept male lovers, it would be a good opportunity to threaten him.

Even royalty has its pride. Rumors had circulated that Prince Luo was a homosexual, so a group of people planted many spies in his residence, but none of them managed to catch him in the act.

That's how it is in the capital; all the rumors are just hearsay, and the Prince of Luo doesn't care.

"unnecessary."

The coachman was furious. After being interrogated by Wei Lan for a long time, he finally said, "I only know that our young master will be going to Wenjun Tower tonight. There is a poetry gathering at Wenjun Tower today."

Mentioning Wenjun Tower, these people should shut up. Unmarried young ladies, anyone associated with Wenjun Tower has no reputation.

Bai Youran's eyes flickered. Since Prince Luo had gone to Wenjun Tower, she should return to the manor early to deliver a letter to her elder brother. Her brother's poetry had been praised by the examiners, and if this led to her befriending Prince Luo…

"Yeah?"

This statement is as good as saying nothing. Everyone knows that Prince Luo went to Wenjun Tower only to meet friends and didn't actually seek out male prostitutes. It's as good as saying nothing at all.

"The person in the carriage, please come down and greet us!"

Wei Lan had a sudden inspiration and shouted loudly.

Lin Yuesha remained unmoved. After careful consideration, she still decided that she could not show herself.

Wei Lan persisted relentlessly, leaving Lin Yuesha helpless.

"You mean..."

The driver approached the car window with trepidation and asked.

In this unexpected situation, he, as a servant, was unable to handle it and could only follow Miss Lin's arrangements. This way, if the prince blamed him, he would have a reason to exonerate himself.

"They're too ugly, I won't see them!"

Lin Yuesha pinched her throat, deliberately making her voice shrill, and ordered the driver, "It's so ugly, let's get away quickly!"

The coachman immediately agreed and drove the carriage away amidst the astonished gazes of Wei Lan and the other two.

"Sister Yue'e, did you hear that? There really is someone in the carriage."

Not only did this person not show his face, but he also arrogantly called the three of them ugly things. How outrageous!

"Judging from the voice... it's neither male nor female."

Lin Yue'e thought about it carefully, but couldn't tell.

"Could he be a eunuch?!"

Bai Youran's eyes were filled with surprise and doubt. She had heard that eunuchs spoke in a high-pitched voice. Prince Luo must have some rather unusual tastes!

"Possibly."

After thinking it over, Wei Lan realized she needed to talk to her sister, the Empress.

Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best. Lin Yuesha was unaware that she had caused Luo Wang's reputation to be damaged, and she praised herself for her cleverness.

She didn't see the expressions on the three people's faces, but they must have been quite interesting.

Since they had already come out of this predicament, and couldn't go back immediately, they could only wander around the area and wait for Lin Yue'e and the other two to leave before returning.

In a private room at Shuangfu Restaurant, Luo Wang ordered a pot of tea. He looked out the window and saw the carriage leave, guessing what had happened.

“Your Highness, you say you’re low-key, but you still can’t change the horses that pull your carriage. Every time, the young ladies in the capital recognize you.”

Even now, Xu Da is surrounded by a number of beautiful women, which greatly annoys him.

“I asked them what roundabout tactics those girls used to approach you. You should settle accounts with your cousin; she's the one who tricked you.”

Luo Wang sipped his tea with relish, saying, "Lin girl won't be back for a while, so we'll serve the dishes later."

"Alright, I'm not hungry yet."

Hunger was bearable, so Xu Da first drank a lot of water to fill his stomach and said, "After the meal, you can take Yue Sha directly to Wenjun Tower, and I will go to the Five Cities Military Command for duty."

No need for the Prince of Luo to send anything; we parted ways after the meal.

"No, you have to come with me to Wenjun Tower."

The Prince of Luo stared at Xu Da strangely, "Who said you didn't have to go?"

"ah?"

Xu Da was greatly surprised. He couldn't understand poetry and songs, and as a military general, he had no interest in them. Moreover, he disliked scholars and was even less interested in scholars who had fallen on hard times and sold themselves into servitude.

After being caught by his own mother at Wenjun Tower, Xu Da has been haunted by his presence in Taipingfang ever since.

"You must understand your subordinate. I had no choice; I had my reasons."

He could still defend himself when he was arrested last time, but if his mother finds out again, it will be irrefutable proof that he is a homosexual from now on, and there will be no need for him to make excuses.

"Where should I begin..."

Luo Wang stroked his chin. Shuangfuji was a safe place. The walls around his private room had been reinforced, so he wasn't worried about their conversation being overheard.

"What is your opinion of the current emperor?"

Xiao Chengyu changed the subject and began to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xu Da.

"Should we listen to official pronouncements or the truth?"

The official language was much simpler: the monarch was wise and sagacious, concerned about the country and its people, and knew how to use people well... and so on.

"truth."

The two were not only officials in the same court, but also brothers, and Xu Da made no attempt to hide his thoughts.

"Weak, lustful, a yes-man, employing treacherous and sycophantic people..."

The term "treacherous villain" refers to Lin Shusheng, a treacherous wretch who lives off his wife's family and rises to power through nepotism.

Is there anything else?

Every point Xu Da made reflected the true feelings of the Prince of Luo.

"And... I have kidney problems."

The main points have been stated. What remains is what Xu Da, as a man, despises most: the emperor indulges in revelry every night, yet the harem only has one little princess, resulting in a very low birth rate.

"Cough cough!"

The Prince of Luo was leisurely sipping tea when Xu Da's words nearly made him choke. What a strange reason!

Because the emperor has kidney problems and can't have a son, they rebelled.

Did they even qualify? Neither he nor Xu Da were ever married!

"Your Highness, I know that you have no ambition and are a person of integrity and integrity who cherishes talent. But you have seen the current situation. Yuwen Kun, a barbarian from the north, is a bloodthirsty man who is intelligent and quite fierce. Sooner or later he will invade our Great Qi. Meanwhile, the foreign tribes in the northwest are also making moves. If we are attacked from both sides, Great Qi will be in danger!"

That incompetent emperor knows nothing about warfare. He withholds military supplies and doesn't provide them in full, which chills the hearts of the soldiers.

The entire Protectorate General's Mansion is exhausted from filling the military supply deficit every year.

Xu Da had heard his mother say this before, and he was very saddened by it. He thought it would be better for such an incompetent and foolish emperor to sit in the high position and spout nonsense all day long.

Xu Da couldn't say too clearly about rebelling, but that was what he thought and hoped for!