Chapter 214 Waiting for an East Wind
Shen Qingci quickly changed the subject. She looked at Chu Jichen, her voice carrying a hint of calculation: "After I learned today that it was the Shen family's stone chamber, I suddenly thought of a way to force Liu Wenyuan to show himself."
A flicker of interest flashed in Chu Jichen's eyes: "Oh? What is it?"
“Using the same methods they used against my Shen family back then,” Shen Qingci’s voice was icy cold, “framing them.”
"Find a breakthrough, frame Liu Wenyuan with countless crimes, and then arrange for someone to take the evidence we fabricated to... remonstrate to the death!"
"The crime must be serious enough! Ideally, it should be one that leads to the confiscation of property or even the execution of nine generations of one's family!"
“I refuse to believe,” a chilling glint flashed in her eyes, “that Liu Wenyuan… can escape!”
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen raised an eyebrow slightly, his deep phoenix eyes filled with complete approval.
“That’s good,” he said thoughtfully. “Besides, we don’t need to fabricate any charges against Liu Wenyuan.”
"I have collected quite a few of the despicable things he has done in secret over the past two years."
"Since Liu Wenyuan is currently unconscious, it's perfect. We can use these things. This way, we can both infuriate the Liu family and ensure that Liu Wenyuan can't use the same methods against me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci chuckled lightly, "Indeed. After all," her voice carried a hint of sarcasm, "neither confiscating your property nor executing your entire family applies to you."
A slow smile played on her lips, and a glint of wisdom flashed in her eyes: "What made Emperor Yongming decide to take action against my Shen family was probably the rumor that the Shen family had a private army."
"The rumors about this private army are completely fabricated. But for the emperor, it is a great temptation."
“He had no real power, but he wanted troops, so he didn’t hesitate to eliminate my Shen family for a baseless rumor.”
“We can do that too,” she said, her voice lower and more seductive, “to fabricate something he wants, and then… arrange for it to be in Liu Wenyuan’s hands.”
Shen Qingci frowned deeply, unable to think of anything that could meet such requirements.
Just then, Chu Jichen suddenly spoke.
"silver."
Shen Qingci turned her head, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion: "Does the Emperor... lack money?"
Chu Jichen's lips slowly curled into a mocking smile: "These past few years, I have been in charge of the government affairs and am fully aware of the situation in the court."
“The emperor will not lack small sums of money. But,” his voice carried a hint of meaning, “he will lack… large sums of money.”
"Emperor Yongming has just assumed power, and there are countless places where he needs money. But the national treasury is currently empty."
"Tell me," a malicious glint in his eyes, "what would he think if he discovered that Liu Wenyuan had more silver hidden away than the national treasury?"
Shen Qingci's eyes darted around, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved upwards: "Naturally, I would be extremely frustrated. Then I would wonder, where did Liu Wenyuan get so much silver from secretly hoarding? And what is he planning to do with it?"
Chu Jichen nodded, his smile deepening: "What if this silver were stored together with some weapons and armor?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci laughed, her laughter filled with glee: "That clearly indicates rebellious intent! It's enough to warrant the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire clan!"
However, after laughing, she slowly lowered her eyes and sighed, "That's a good idea. But... money, weapons, and armor can't compare to a private army."
“Private soldiers are human beings; they have legs and can run away.”
"His Majesty is suspicious because he sees my father and brother winning battle after battle, achieving great military exploits, and leading highly trained and elite troops. If he can't find them, he can say that my Shen family has hidden them and that a troop mobilization order is required to deploy them."
"But silver and those things are inanimate objects. His Majesty isn't stupid; if he can't see them, how can he possibly believe them?"
Chu Jichen smiled: "Then let him see it."
Let him see it?
Shen Qingci's eyes were filled with doubt.
The prerequisite for seeing something is that it must exist.
Could it be... that Liu Wenyuan really has it?
Chu Jichen nodded slowly: "The Liu family is a century-old family. In addition, Liu Wenyuan's official career is not clean. Over the years, the wealth he has accumulated is still a considerable sum."
"And," a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes, "he has finally managed to find out where Liu Wenyuan is hiding those things during this time."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci laughed, her laughter filled with mockery: "Your Highness... is quite wicked too."
But they quickly realized what was happening.
Chu Jichen had already been investigating Liu Wenyuan! Moreover, he had already discovered the silver that Liu Wenyuan had hidden!
Was he planning to do this all along?
Shen Qingci gave Chu Jichen a deep look, then asked, "Although we've found the hiding place, such an important place must be heavily guarded, right?"
"Breaking in isn't easy. But breaking in and letting the emperor see what's inside is even more difficult."
Chu Jichen nodded, but a cruel smile slowly crept onto his lips.
"Then...what about burning it?"
Shen Qingci's eyes lit up instantly: "Burn it with fire?"
"That's a good idea!"
Chu Jichen slowly placed a black piece on the chessboard beside him, his movements elegant and composed, as if he had already taken everything under control.
The corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards, his voice carrying a hint of confident shrewdness: "The truly wise live in seclusion amidst the bustling city. Liu Wenyuan... understands this principle well."
"Therefore, he bought that courtyard in the most prosperous area of the capital. And in order not to attract attention and not to be discovered by the neighbors, he also bought all the houses in that alley and knocked them together."
"But for us, doing this is actually... beneficial."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci smiled, immediately understanding the deeper meaning behind his words: "In this way, if we use fire, it won't... affect other innocent families."
Chu Jichen nodded in agreement, his smile deepening.
"Furthermore, the entire alley is on fire. If the fire were to rage even more fiercely, it would surely alert many people. Our men could take the opportunity to... infiltrate the area."
Shen Qingci raised her eyes, looked at Chu Jichen, and asked, "Then, Your Highness... when do you plan to set the fire?"
Chu Jichen shook his head, a profound and unfathomable light flashing in his deep phoenix eyes.
“I’m waiting,” he said slowly, looking at her.
"Waiting for an east wind."
"Fire is a thing," he said slowly, "easy to start and easy to extinguish. It is only with the help of the wind that it can be put into the best effect."
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