On the Yunxuan Grand Canal, the spring scenery is enchanting, and the blue waves ripple.
Zhao Yi stood on the gunwale, gazing thoughtfully at the vast river in the spring sunshine.
The spring breeze, though gentle, seemed to carry a hint of chill as it brushed past, causing his clothes to flutter.
Ang Lee stood behind him, constantly alert to any movement around them.
"Young master, if His Highness still has not returned after more than a month, what plan should we devise?" he whispered, his tone filled with worry.
Zhao Yi turned around, his smile calm yet revealing undeniable confidence: "Zhizhi is gentle yet resilient. Lord Zhao loves his daughter dearly, and I have a clever plan to make her willingly return to my Great Xuan."
After speaking, he stepped into the cabin, where the warmth contrasted sharply with the chill of spring outside.
He gently lifted the wine pot, warmed the wine into a cup with fluid movements, and handed a cup to Li An, saying, "Li An, let's drink this cup together to warm our bodies and our hearts."
Li An hurriedly accepted the gift, feeling flattered, and said, "Young master's consideration is too much for this old servant to bear."
The aroma of wine filled the air as the two sat facing each other, their conversation turning to the turbulent events at the Duke's mansion.
"By the way, I've heard that things have been a bit unsettled at the Duke's mansion lately. Do you know what's going on?"
"I've heard other officials mention this before. They say that Duke Li has become infatuated with a woman named 'Red Dress' at the Hidden Spring Pavilion and plans to redeem her and keep her outside. But his wife found out. That wife is quite shrewd."
Holding his wine glass, Ang Lee began to speak slowly and deliberately.
"After she learned of this, she neither cried nor made a fuss. She only instructed the accountant in the manor not to allocate another tael of silver to Duke Li. Recently, the two of them have even been planning to divorce!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi took a sip of warm wine and smiled, "The Duchess is truly an extraordinary woman. I've heard that she comes from a prominent merchant family in Chaoyang, is decisive in her actions, and is also a close friend of Zhizhi's mother. It seems that they do share some similarities in temperament."
After speaking, he lowered his gaze slightly, as if savoring the deeper meaning behind his words, or perhaps plotting something.
Outside the window, spring was in full bloom, and the Yunxuan Grand Canal shimmered, reflecting the warm yet slightly witty conversation inside the cabin—everything was understood without words.
Sitting opposite Zhao Yi, Li An had no idea what he was thinking and dared not guess his thoughts.
Whenever Zhao Yi was planning a strategy, he would habitually squint his eyes.
The boat continued its journey, and the scenery along the way unfolded slowly before the two of them like a flowing scroll painting.
Zhao Yi gazed out the window, his eyes deep, as if he were pondering something important.
Seeing this, Ang Lee didn't ask any more questions and simply stayed by his side silently.
Soon, the ship docked.
The two disembarked from the boat, switched to a horse-drawn carriage, and headed straight for Lingyang City.
Along the way, the carriage rumbled along. Zhao Yi closed his eyes to rest, then suddenly opened them and gave an order.
"Li An, go back and summon Li Hanlin to draft an imperial edict."
Li An was dozing off when he heard Zhao Yi's voice. He immediately became alert, sat up straight, and waited for Zhao Yi's instructions.
"It's time to make a move on Chen Hanshan, this chess piece," Zhao Yi said softly.
"Is the young master preparing to restore the title of Prince Rui?" Li An asked tentatively, his face beaming with joy.
Zhao Yi smiled and glanced at him, his meaning obvious. He turned and lifted the curtain on the carriage to look outside.
"It's not just about restoring the account ban. Since Prince Rui is willing to stand on our side, he must have enough leverage."
"Your Highness is wise," Li An nodded in agreement.
Zhao Yi then asked, "Ang Lee, have you ever considered that the word 'emotion' can be both a weakness and a weapon in the midst of power struggles?"
Upon hearing this, Li An's eyes flickered slightly, and he bowed and replied, "What you say is absolutely right, sir. Although emotions are intangible, they can sway people's hearts and influence the situation. However, it is extremely difficult to grasp the right balance."
Zhao Yi smiled slightly, a smile that contained both recognition of Li An's understanding and a hint of complex emotions that were not easily detected.
What do you think of Li Huai'an?
Li An was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Crown Prince Li is loyal, reliable, and capable; he is a rare talent."
“That’s right.” Zhao Yi nodded. “But after all, his influence in the court is still shallow. He needs more experience before he can become our help.”
"Does the young master intend to give Prince Li an important position?" Li An asked curiously.
Zhao Yi smiled slightly, but did not answer directly. Instead, he said, "Li Huai'an and Zhizhi are childhood sweethearts, inseparable since they were little. If we can use this affection for our own purposes, it will be like adding wings to a tiger. But if we handle it improperly, I'm afraid it will backfire and even become a stumbling block for us."
His words carried an undeniable firmness, as if he had already planned every move of the game in his mind.
As the carriage approached a street corner, the sound of string and wind instruments suddenly drifted from afar, melodious and gentle, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lingyang City.
Zhao Yi lifted a corner of the curtain and saw a towering pavilion in the distance, its eaves soaring upwards. It was the infamous pleasure quarters of Lingyang City—the Hidden Spring Pavilion. It was also the place that had made him so angry that he vomited blood last time.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered to himself, "Perhaps we can find some inspiration from the matter of Duke Li."
He then looked away and said to Ang Lee, "Ang Lee, I want to take a walk alone to clear my mind. You can follow me from a distance."
Ang Lee nodded in agreement.
Zhao Yi dismounted from the carriage and strolled alone through the streets and alleys of Lingyang City.
In spring, all things revive, the streets are bustling with people, and the cries of vendors and the sounds of children playing intertwine to create a vivid picture of everyday life.
However, all of this was just fleeting in Zhao Yi's eyes; his mind was only focused on the unfinished game of chess.
He strolled into a quiet alley, flanked by mottled walls and the occasional flowering branches peeking out from the top.
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