Xu Di stood quietly to the side for a while, suppressing his temper, and did not look up at Emperor Liang Cheng.

Emperor Liang Cheng sighed softly and said, "Xu Di, I heard that you sent people to investigate Jiang Zhaoming. Explain to me why you wanted to investigate Jiang Zhaoming?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Di understood why Emperor Liang had invited him here, and why he had been left out in the cold.

Xu Di straightened his face, then looked up and said, "Your Majesty, I sent someone to Jiangnan simply to verify one of my guesses."

Emperor Liang Cheng was not satisfied with Xu Di's explanation and said, "Xu Di, Jiang Zhaoming is my right-hand man. Over the years, his feelings for me are clear as day and night. If he finds out that you sent someone to investigate him, it will inevitably cause more trouble."

Xu Di bowed deeply to Emperor Liang Cheng and said, "Your Majesty, the men I sent are all your elites, each with unique skills. They are only secretly investigating some matters and will not be noticed by Lord Jiang. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

Seeing that Xu Di had no intention of withdrawing the people, Emperor Liang Cheng said, "Fine, since you have this idea, then go ahead and do it. But I must warn you, if you cause any trouble, I will not cover for you."

After thanking Emperor Liang Cheng, Xu Di took his leave, seeing that there was nothing else to do.

Chen Wufu escorted Xu Di outside the palace, sighed, and said softly, "Lord Xu, His Majesty is very dissatisfied with what you did this time. Lord Jiang is His Majesty's most trusted person. How can His Majesty not be angry that you sent someone to investigate like this?"

Xu Di smiled and pleaded, "Oh, Eunuch Chen, I'm still young, how could I possibly think of so many things? Don't worry, I'm just sending someone to inquire about something, I promise I won't bother Lord Jiang."

As soon as Xu Di left the palace, his face fell. He was worried that the dozens of men Emperor Liang Cheng had given him, who were now so well-trained, might become a tool to cut off his own people's heads in the future.

Xu Di is now eager to have his own power. Only when he has power in his own hands that he can use, will he not be hindered by so many things.

Xu Di's idea was somewhat unconventional. He wanted to discuss it with his grandfather, the Marquis of Yongning, but he felt that his grandfather, a native-born monarch, would not agree to his actions. However, without his grandfather's support, this idea could only remain a thought.

Xu Di thought about it all the way, and after signing his retirement papers at the Hanlin Academy, he rode home on horseback.

It wasn't dinner time yet. The three meals a day at the Yongning Marquis's residence were usually at fixed times. The Marquis's meals were prepared by a special chef in the main kitchen and delivered to the dining area according to instructions. The Yongning Marquis usually ate in his study.

Seeing Xu Di return, Marquis Yongning smiled and said, "You've come back just in time. I had the kitchen make a chicken soup with this year's new chestnuts."

Xu Di smiled and said, "Grandfather, I'm really lucky to have such a delicious meal."

Marquis Yongning tidied up the things on the table, looked at Xu Di's expression, and said with a smile, "Is something the matter?"

Xu Di recounted what had happened that afternoon. Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Yongning's expression darkened, and he asked Xu Di, "What is your opinion on this matter?"

Xu Di sighed and said, "I just gave the order, and I don't even know if the person I arranged has left yet, but I was summoned by the Emperor and scolded. Grandfather, I feel so cold inside. The Emperor gave me the person, saying that he would be at my disposal and used by me, but how I use him is not really up to me. If I want to investigate some things, I can't get around the Emperor."

Marquis Yongning said calmly, "I see you have some ideas. Tell me what they are."

Xu Di hesitated for a moment, but couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Grandfather, I want to train the people myself, so that it will be more convenient to use them."

After listening, Marquis Yongning remained silent for a long time, until Xu Di's heart began to rise higher and higher, before he heard Marquis Yongning say softly, "Brother Di, have you thought about what the Emperor would think of our family if he found out about what you did?"

Xu Di sneered and said, "His Majesty knows perfectly well that the three princes are fighting their own battles, yet he has dumped the seventh prince on us. What exactly does he mean by this? Are we just going to do nothing and wait for one of the three princes to seize the throne, and then become fish on the chopping block?"

Upon hearing this, Marquis Yongning leaned back in his official chair. Xu Di, seeing this, got up and fetched a cushion, placing it behind Marquis Yongning and saying, "It's more comfortable sitting like this."

Marquis Yongning adjusted the cushions, let out a comfortable sigh, and said, "Di'er, His Majesty is a benevolent man. He can't bear to see his children kill each other. He secretly sent the Seventh Prince out like this. Have you ever thought that it was just to give him a way to survive? The heart of a monarch is unfathomable."

Xu Di sneered and said, "Why give it to our family of all people? Since it's been sent here, we should train a qualified successor for him. Then he won't be able to refuse to pass the position to Yu Yuan, right? Grandfather, we should really investigate Jiang Zhaoming."

Seeing that Xu Di was still determined to investigate Jiang Zhaoming, Marquis Yongning asked him, "What are you doing? Why do you insist on investigating him?"

Xu Di said, "When Cousin Yan came over this morning, he said he saw several unfamiliar teenage maids in the garden of the Yongping Marquis's mansion. I had some suspicions in my mind. Grandfather knows that I have several shops at the dock in Tongzhou, which deal with traveling merchants. The shop assistants in those shops are all carefully arranged by me so that I can get information at any time. Just a few days ago, I received news that someone sent a batch of 'thin horses' from Jiangnan. And Cousin Yan said that he saw several unfamiliar maids at home. Grandfather, that's when I made this guess."

Marquis Yongning neither expressed agreement nor reprimanded him, but calmly asked, "What are your guesses?"

Xu Di gritted his teeth and said, "I suspect that Jiang Zhaoming is buying thin horses in Jiangnan and sending them to the capital, where he has people from the Yongping Marquis's residence help him deliver them."

Empress Yongning then said in an icy tone, "Absurd! You just acted against the monarch based on your wild and unrestrained ideas. Di'er, do you think His Majesty is a gentle person?"

Xu Di knew this matter wouldn't go smoothly, and said calmly, "Grandfather, I always make bold assumptions and carefully verify them. For anything I can think of, I will consider the worst-case scenario and then slowly verify it. Even if the facts prove that my guess is wrong, I will not let it go easily. After all, many times, opportunities only come once, and missing this opportunity may lead to an abyss."