Chapter 442 Late Night Conspiracy (I)
"You're back?"
Wang Min's voice was as calm as usual.
"Yes, mother." They both answered in unison.
Yuan Wanru walked forward and snuggled up to Wang Min, as intimately as a daughter. She lowered her voice and said with sincere gratitude: "Thank you, mother. I'm sorry for your troubles during this period."
She paused, her eyes sparkling, and whispered, "Mom, if there's a chance in the future, why don't you go out with us to relax?"
Wang Min smiled sincerely when he heard this.
He raised his hand and gently patted the back of Yuan Wanru's hand, then stroked her temples and said softly, "Okay."
But there is a bit of helplessness hidden in this word "good".
The Marquis' Mansion is a huge mess. As the mistress of the house, how can she get away easily?
What's more, when the turmoil in the capital was settled, she was still worried about Lu Wei who was far away in Anzhou.
No matter what, that was the flesh that fell from her body and she couldn't let it go.
At dinner time, the whole family gathered together for a rare occasion and had their meal in the spacious flower hall.
The atmosphere was much more harmonious than when the old lady was still there.
There seemed to be less rift between the first and second wives.
Zhou Fang has obviously restrained herself a lot now, and there is a sense of "being well-behaved" in everything she says and does. During the meal, she would occasionally serve food to Wang Min, or chat with Yuan Wanru about family matters. Although they were not very lively, they were harmonious.
The laughter of the children was interspersed throughout the meal, and it actually felt like a happy and harmonious meal, as if the years were really peaceful and tranquil.
After the meal, everyone dispersed.
As the night deepened, Lu Jiangnian's figure quickly and silently blended into the deep night of the Marquis' Mansion.
He wants to meet the prince.
-
Deep in an extremely secretive mansion, in a secret room between two walls, there was only a tiny oil lamp lit.
The dim light could barely illuminate the two faces sitting around the small wooden table.
Everyone's brows were tightly locked. An inextricable gloom filled the secret room. The air seemed to be frozen, making it hard to breathe.
When Sun Huanzhi saw Lu Jiangnian pushing the door open, the anger that had been suppressed for a long time suddenly came up and he retorted in a bad mood.
"Oh! Master Lu finally came back? You ran away so quickly and cleanly, leaving the capital behind. It's about to be turned upside down! Aren't you too disloyal?"
Lu Jiangnian raised his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently, his eyes calm and unperturbed, as if Sun Huanzhi's anger was just a breeze blowing across his face.
He found a seat and sat down. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, with a hint of self-mockery.
"You are joking, Master Sun. I am a commoner with no official position. What use can I have staying here?"
He paused, then turned his gaze to the Crown Prince, his tone so calm that it was almost cold, "Unless... Your Highness, you have made up your mind and are ready to go all out to force him to abdicate."
"If that's the case, I, Lu Jiangnian, would risk my life to serve you as a vanguard and lend a helping hand."
"Jiang Nian! Be careful with your words!"
The prince frowned suddenly, and shouted in a low voice, with a trace of fear in his eyes.
The fact that Lu Jiangnian could say such treasonous words so bluntly in front of him and Sun Huanzhi showed how much resentment he had towards his father.
But on second thought, the prince felt bitter again.
Can he be blamed for this?
First, the emperor granted him a marriage and forced Liang Yuhua into his life, causing him trouble. Then, he found a reason to dismiss him from his official position. Who wouldn't feel resentful?
This is the normal reaction that Lu Jiangnian should have.
Sun Huanzhi was so frightened by his light words "force the emperor to abdicate" that he almost jumped up. His face changed and he glared at him fiercely and cursed him in a low voice.
"I think you've been away from Beijing for too long, and you've gone crazy outside! Your brain is confused, right? You dare to say something like this that will cost you your head and your entire family! Do you want to die?!"
Lu Jiangnian shrugged indifferently, his tone still calm, as if the earth-shattering words just now were not said by him: "Then what do you think, Sun Shizi, do we do?"
He glanced at the anxious faces of the Crown Prince and Sun Huanzhi, and continued, "I am not in the capital, but I know everything that happens in the capital."
"Your Highness's current situation is not good enough to be described as bad. How do we solve this game? I am all ears."
The prince sighed long and tiredly, and the sigh sounded particularly heavy in the silent secret room: "Jiang Nian, I know you are worried about me and you are angry, but forcing the emperor to rebel..."
He shook his head and said firmly, "I can't go down this road. It won't work!"
"Once we start, there will be no return. There is absolutely no chance of winning!"
He lowered his voice, with the resentment of being forced into a desperate situation and a deep sense of powerlessness, "You don't know how many fence-sitters there are in the court right now, eagerly watching the wind direction, just waiting to see me fall so that they can climb up the ladder!"
Sun Huanzhi's brows knitted into knots, and he continued worriedly, "The current situation is really urgent! The Fifth Prince's mansion is now as bustling as a market, and the door is almost broken by people!"
"Those cunning people in the court are trying their best to get close to him."
"What's worse is that rumors are spreading inside and outside the palace that His Majesty... might issue an edict before the New Year to depose and enthrone the crown prince!"
"This situation is like sitting on a powder keg, ready to explode!"
He became more and more anxious as he spoke, and sweat broke out on his forehead.
He turned to Lu Jiangnian abruptly, asking urgently, "Jiangnian! You have a quick mind, tell me quickly, how can we break this deadlock? What do you think?"
Sun Huanzhi knew very well in his mind that he was far inferior to Lu Jiangnian in terms of planning and vision.
Lu Jiangnian didn't respond immediately.
He slowly picked up the cup of tea in front of him that had already cooled down, put it to his lips and took a sip. The cold liquid slid down his throat, bringing a hint of soberness.
After putting down the cup, he raised his eyes and swept his gaze steadily over the crown prince and Sun Huanzhi. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, with a calmness that showed a thorough understanding of the situation: "The most urgent matter is just eight words: tighten the fence and wait for the right time."
"To put it bluntly, it's about protecting yourself while looking for opportunities to counterattack."
He paused, and said in a firm tone: "As for forcing the emperor to abdicate? That is the worst option, the stupidest way, don't even try it!"
Not to mention that he knew very well that the man on the throne would not have much time left. Even if the emperor was in good health, forcing him to abdicate would have no chance of success.
Fortunately, the prince never thought of going down that dead end.
"What is the quality of the Fifth Prince?"
Lu Jiangnian's lips curled up with a barely perceptible sneer, "Anyone with eyes that are not blind and brains that are not muddled can see it clearly. With his abilities and character, he can't sit firmly on the throne!"
"It's just relying on your majesty's current favor."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
