Chapter 71 Undercurrent
At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard in the yard. Ling Chenyi pushed open the door and immediately put on his signature smile on his face.
"Brother Chang He, you are here. Have you had your meal yet? Would you like to eat with me?"
Shen Changhe stood up and exchanged greetings with him before saying, "I've already used it at home. Thank you, Prince Ling."
"Oh." Ling Chenyi walked over with a smile, looking up and down at Xiao Yuan's face. Seeing that he was calm as water and showed no signs of anger, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Qingfeng fooled him again.
How could Xiao Yuan not understand the meaning of his eyes? He glared at him and ordered, "Go to the Second Prince's Mansion and bring Li Huaiyan back."
"Now?" Ling Chenyi was a little surprised.
After working so hard for so many days, we just let the second prince go.
Xiao Yuan looked at him with deep and dark eyes, "Of course, but the person is not in your hands. What you can exchange is only Wang's whereabouts. Do you understand?"
Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows, and after a moment's thought he immediately understood what Xiao Yuan meant. His gentle face smiled in a somewhat weird way.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
He turned around and saw Shen Changhe still standing there with a conflicted look on his face. He knew without a doubt what he wanted to ask. Ling Chenyi hooked his arm around his neck and led him out of the study.
"Brother Chang He, there will be a lot of excitement at the morning court tomorrow, so go back and rest early."
Shen Changhe looked back at the study room where the candlelight was flickering, his brows knitted tightly.
Just go back like this. If An An asks again, how should he explain it?
Ling Chenyi spoke to comfort her, "It has already started tonight, and there will definitely be a result in the morning court tomorrow. Wait for Huaiyan to come out, then you can come."
"Yeah." Shen Changhe nodded. He also knew that tonight was crucial and Zhang Yeyang would never be released.
Shen Changhe and Ling Chenyi left the Fourth Prince's Mansion together.
——
The next morning.
As usual, Shen Anan came to pay her respects to Madam Shen. She came a little early today, and Shen Changhe and Shen Wen had not left the house yet.
Mrs. Shen had breakfast prepared, and the family of four sat together happily to eat.
Madam Shen glanced at Shen Anan, knowing that her daughter had been absent-minded these days and didn't sleep in because she had something on her mind, so she took the initiative to ask.
"Husband, is there any news about Zhang Yeyang?"
Shen Wen looked up at Shen Changhe, “Isn’t He’er the one walking around in this matter?”
He has been very busy these days and has not had time to ask.
Mrs. Shen complained a little, "After all, it's my daughter's lifelong event, why don't you care about it at all."
Shen Wen didn't say anything, but looked at Shen Changhe with an inquiring look. Shen Changhe put down his chopsticks and explained, "There should be a result today, mother, don't worry."
"really?"
Shen Changhe nodded.
Mrs. Shen finally let go of her worries and patted the back of Shen Anan's hand, "Hurry up and eat."
It's good that everything is fine. An An can calm down. Mrs. Shen sighed again in her heart, feeling very uncomfortable. From this, it seems that her daughter is really in love with the scholar, and there is no room for change in this marriage.
After the meal, the maid came up to clear away the bowls and leftovers, and Mrs. Shen helped Shen Wen to tidy up his court clothes.
Shen Changhe stood up and prepared to leave, when Shen Wen's voice suddenly rang out, "He'er, did you go out last night?"
Shen Changhe paused for a moment, then nodded slowly.
Shen Wen stroked his cuffs, walked down the steps, and looked at Shen Changhe, his old eyes were sharp, "You often leave the house in the middle of the night these days, what are you doing?"
"There is an emergency in the Imperial Guards. I'll go over and take a look." Shen Changhe said with a bow.
"Really?" Shen Wen seemed unconvinced and stared at his eldest son with sharp eyes.
Shen Changhe lowered his head and nodded.
He seldom lied, and it was impossible for him to lie at this moment without feeling guilty. However, according to the Shen family precepts, the descendants of the Shen family could not have close contacts with the princes, especially not participate in the struggle for succession among the parties in the court.
If my father knew about this, the sky over the Chen Mansion would be torn apart today.
Shen Wen stared at him for a long while before he slowed down his tone and said, "He'er, you should know that my Shen family is too powerful and is at the center of the storm. You should also understand that Dad has great power but can still stand firm because he keeps himself out of trouble. Our Shen family is high enough and no longer needs any power."
No matter which king ascends the throne, Shen Wen's position is always at the top, and it is a blessing for him not to be afraid of being deprived of his power.
"I understand, Dad, don't worry." Shen Changhe lowered his head and agreed.
Shen Wen patted him on the shoulder and was about to say something when a servant ran in hurriedly, "Master."
Shen Wen frowned, "Come in."
The servant immediately lifted the curtain and came in. He lowered his head and looked at the ground. He reported, "I just got the news that the Second Prince sent a team of elite soldiers to surround the Hu's Bank on Hua'an Street last night. Now everyone in the bank has been imprisoned."
Shen Wen was startled, and looked at Shen Changhe, and said, "Why would he pick a fight with a bank for no reason?"
As the Grand Marshal, he has been paying close attention to the developments in the court. As for today's incident, he couldn't figure out Xiao Ze's motives for the time being.
Shen Wen didn't know what was going on, but Shen Changhe knew it very well. He couldn't help but sigh that the Fourth Prince had grasped the situation very well.
"Do you know why?"
"It is said that the Hu Bank kidnapped the second prince's pregnant concubine..." At this point, the servant paused for a moment.
Shen Wen's face darkened slightly, and he took a step forward, "Go ahead."
The servant lowered his voice very low, "Our people have received news that the owner of Hu's Bank does not seem to be from Daliang, and has a close relationship with... the Fourth Prince."
Shen Wen narrowed his eyes and instantly understood what was going on. He waved his hand to let the servant retreat, and then instructed, "Keep this matter to yourself and don't mention it to anyone."
"Yes, I understand." The servant retreated.
Madam Shen walked to Shen Wen's side, looked at her husband's solemn expression, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong? What big thing happened?"
Shen Wen shook his head and sighed, "The sky of Daliang is about to change."
The fight between the two princes has now become fierce and is not concealed at all.
Madam Shen was far away from what the servant said just now, but Shen Anan, who was standing with Shen Changhe, heard it clearly. She was slightly shocked and subconsciously looked at her eldest brother.
If the thing that eldest brother said that he shouldn't know was about the fight for the throne, then Zhang Yeyang would indeed be safer in prison than out.
Shen Wen comforted Mrs. Shen with a few words, and then the father and son left together to attend the court.
"Brother, Dad," Shen Anan chased into the courtyard, pursed her red lips, "Be careful, and be sure to protect yourself."
Shen Wen and Shen Changhe nodded at the same time.
Shen Changhe smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dad and I know what's going on."
Shen Anan was not comforted by Shen Changhe's words. She walked forward quickly and said.
"No matter what happens, even if they break their heads, it has nothing to do with us. You must not get involved. As long as our Shen Mansion is fine, the life and death of anyone else is irrelevant."
"Okay, go back soon." Shen Wen looked at his daughter with relief. Although his words were unpleasant to the ear, they were all out of concern.
The father and son turned and left.
Shen Changhe looked back at Shen Anan again, his eyelids twitched slightly. Anan really had no feelings for Xiao Yuan at all!
"He'er." Shen Wen's voice suddenly sounded.
Shen Changhe pulled back his thoughts, "Dad."
"Two tigers fighting each other, who do you think will win?"
Shen Changhe glanced at his father cautiously. It was still a little dark, so he couldn't see Shen Wen's expression. He could only say cautiously, "I don't know, but at the moment, the Second Prince has the witness, so the Fourth Prince should be at a disadvantage."
"Really?" Shen Wen chuckled and did not comment.
He didn't think that Xiao Yuan was such an imprudent person, and the evidence Xiao Ze got was too easy to obtain.
Shen Changhe said, "No matter who wins or loses, it has nothing to do with us. Let's just watch the fun."
This is what Shen Wen has been teaching him since he entered the officialdom. Shen Changhe thought it was always right to say so, but he didn't expect to receive a cold look from his old father.
At this time, the father and son had already boarded the carriage and headed for the palace.
Shen Wen drank a cup of tea to moisten his throat, and pushed another cup to Shen Changhe.
Shen Changhe had just used it in Madam Shen's Longxiang Pavilion and was not thirsty, but when he caught Shen Wen's sight, he picked it up anyway.
"Drink more. If there is a chance, you'll have to use your tongue to beat the man when he's down."
Shen Changhe was stunned, and for a moment he didn't react to Shen Wen's meaning.
Shen Wen glanced at him coldly, "Your sister's crime was not in vain. I, Shen Wen's daughter, am not someone you can just tie up as he pleases."
“…” Shen Changhe immediately understood what Shen Wen meant, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
It's been so long, but Dad still remembers the grudge that the Second Prince kidnapped An An.
He lowered his head and finished a cup of tea, with a slight smile on his lips. The Shen family was not involved in party disputes, but they were still capable of adding insult to injury and taking advantage of others' misfortune.
"Don't worry, Dad. I understand."
Shen Wenqing said "hmm" and instructed, "Do your best. If there is a chance, don't show mercy."
Shen Changhe hid his chuckle and nodded in agreement.
But it's also strange, how can Dad be so sure that the Second Prince will lose? After all, from outsiders' perspective, the situation is not favorable to the Fourth Prince.
While he was thinking, the carriage arrived at the palace gate.
It was particularly quiet today. All the ministers huddled in a corner and stopped chatting. Everyone had a serious look on their face. Only Ling Chenyi, who was standing next to the carriage of the Fourth Prince, had a smile on his face. The atmosphere was gentle.
"Xiao Yuan, look, all the adults are worried about you."
Xiao Yuan glanced at him indifferently and then looked away. There was no warmth on his expressionless face.
He was always like this, so the ministers who were always watching him could not see his emotional fluctuations.
He even began to doubt himself: Didn't the Fourth Prince know that the Second Prince had ordered him to enter the palace before dawn to file a complaint against him?
"Where is Li Huaiyan?" Xiao Yuan asked in a calm voice.
Ling Chenyi curled his lips and smiled, "He's fine, but he just suffered some skin injuries and suffered a lot. He should be dealing with household chores and cleaning up the mess right now."
Xiao Yuan nodded.
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves was heard, and soon, the carriage of the Shen Mansion stopped not far away.
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