Chapter 41: Each One Shows His Own Schemes
Lin Kui was guarding the corridor and saw Shen Yuexi enter the room at the end. A maid was guarding outside the door.
He was puzzled. Why had His Royal Highness placed Madam Pei under house arrest? Was it because Madam Pei refused to sell the prescription, or had she offended His Royal Highness? But when she came out just now, she looked so happy, so that didn't seem likely.
While he was thinking, the bead curtain swayed, and Xiao Beiheng walked out and walked towards the back garden.
"Lin Kui, follow me."
Lin Kui quickly caught up with Xiao Beiheng and asked cautiously:
"Master, please forgive me for overstepping my bounds. I wonder why you want to keep her here?"
Xiao Beiheng turned around and gave him a cold glance, saying, "As my prince's advisor, how could you not even understand this? A mere prescription has confused you?"
Lin Kui didn't know why his master suddenly lost his temper, so he quickly knelt on one knee and said, "There are many cases of diarrhea in the army. I was surprised and delighted to see that this medicine is effective. Please punish me, master."
Xiao Beiheng paused and said slowly, "You come from a family of doctors, so it's your nature. This prince doesn't blame you. It's just that I'm disappointed that you can't even tell the identity of this woman."
Lin Kui was stunned.
He saw that this medicine was being sold at Doctor Hua's Yishengtang, so he asked him about it. He learned that it was a traveling merchant couple temporarily staying in Daliang Village. The man's surname was Pei, and the woman's surname was Ming. He didn't ask any more questions.
After all, there are many miraculous medicines in the world. It is not uncommon for a couple to have a good prescription for curing diseases, which may be passed down from their ancestors.
Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he couldn't tell the woman's identity, he didn't understand what else he needed to dig deeper into.
"I am a fool, please explain clearly, Your Highness."
Xiao Beiheng sneered, "How many people in this world can be surnamed Pei, and how many of them are married and temporarily staying here? And look at this Miss Pei's appearance... Is this all such a coincidence?"
After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked into the moon gate of the back garden.
Lin Kui was stunned for a moment, but then he reacted and looked ashamed. He stood up and followed Xiao Beiheng into the garden. Seeing no one around, he lowered his voice and said,
"I'm a fool. I didn't even consider these connections. Since Xiao Zhuo is in Daliang Village, should we send someone there immediately..."
As he spoke, he raised his finger and stroked his neck horizontally.
Others may not know this, but as the Crown Prince's personal advisor, he knows it all. This time, the prince sent the Crown Prince to Liangzhou to eliminate the deposed Crown Prince Xiao Zhuo.
A great opportunity is right in front of us, we can't let it slip away.
Xiao Beiheng stood in front of a flower tree, his hands behind his back, admiring the pale yellow flowers on the branches with great interest, and said without turning his head:
"Where do you think Xiao Zhuo is right now, Daliang Village?"
Seeing Xiao Beiheng's sarcastic tone, Lin Kui quickly shut his mouth.
The prince wouldn't mind an occasional blunder. After all, even the wisest man can make mistakes. But if he kept making mistakes over and over again, it would mean he wasn't worthy of his position.
Four hours had already passed since he and Doctor Hua had discussed the prescription this morning. It would soon be dark, and Xiao Zhuo must have guessed something was wrong with the deposed Crown Princess. Why was she still waiting there so obediently?
Xiao Zhuo's being crippled doesn't mean his brain is also crippled.
If we really send someone to assassinate him, not only will we fail, but we will also alert the enemy.
"Your Highness, I understand now," Lin Kui said with a look of sudden enlightenment in his eyes. "Your Highness is planning to use this woman as bait to lure Xiao Zhuo into a trap?"
Xiao Beiheng nodded slightly in response.
Lin Kui then thought: What if Xiao Zhuo doesn’t come to look for him, then all their efforts would be in vain.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "The county is posting a wanted notice. How could Xiao Zhuo put himself in danger for a mere woman?"
He knew all about the life of the brilliant former Crown Prince Xiao Zhuo, but knew nothing about his emotional life. Now, hearing what the Crown Prince said, could it be that he was an infatuated man?
Xiao Beiheng plucked a flower, twisted it between his fingers and said:
"Xiao Zhuo is a proud man. Even for the sake of his reputation, he will definitely come to rescue us. He will definitely come."
As he spoke, he threw the petals in his hand under his feet, crushed them into powder and stepped into the soil, then walked to a stone table and sat down.
"Even if Xiao Zhuo doesn't come to rescue me, do you think Shen Yuexi, who can make such a miraculous medicine, is just an ordinary person? If I can use this person, wouldn't it be wonderful?"
Xiao Beiheng said this with a smile on his face, obviously in a good mood.
Lin Kui nodded repeatedly and replied, "Your Highness is right. It is I who am stupid."
Xiao Beiheng stood up and patted his shoulder, smiling, "It's normal that you don't understand Xiao Zhuonai. Even this prince didn't expect that Shen Yuexi, who has been locked up in the Duke's Mansion since childhood, would have such ability."
As they were talking, a servant entered from the Moon Gate. He came before the two of them and reported:
"Your Highness, the spy who was gathering information has returned."
Lin Kui said to the servant, "Speak."
The servant said, "After arriving in Liangzhou, Imperial Guard Commander Wu Mingzi secretly met with Governor Liu Yi. The specific content of their discussions is unknown. However, Governor Liu Yi subsequently raised an army of 10,000 and divided them into four groups, heading towards the Liangzhou border in the east, south, west, and north directions."
After hearing this, Lin Kui first glanced at Xiao Beiheng. Seeing that the latter was quietly thinking, he waved his hand and ordered the servant to leave.
"Your Highness, Liang Province is not a border province. Why did Governor Liu suddenly send troops? Even to eliminate bandits wouldn't require so many men."
Xiao Beiheng raised his head from his contemplation and said:
"It seems we are not the only ones who want to kill Xiao Zhuo."
Lin Kui was startled and asked, "Could it be His Majesty..."
"First, I misjudged Shen Yuexi, and now even His Majesty can't see through her," Xiao Beiheng shook his head in self-mockery. "This prince has always believed that His Majesty at least has a father-son relationship with him and wouldn't kill him."
"If your Highness's speculation is correct, then the attack in Shengzhou is..."
"Indeed, at first, I couldn't guess who did it. But with this incident, it can be linked to Your Majesty."
Xiao Beiheng said this, quickening his pace towards the garden gate, muttering to himself:
"I still don't see things clearly enough. I need to constantly hone myself and not waste a single moment..."
Lin Kui followed closely behind him and said soothingly:
"Your Highness, there's no need to blame yourself. We don't need to worry about what His Majesty thinks. Just follow His Majesty's wishes and eliminate the deposed Crown Prince. His Majesty will naturally trust you even more, and may even hand over the Beiding Army to you. Then we..."
Hearing this, Xiao Beiheng suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared at Lin Kui with cold eyes.
Lin Kui felt as if he were being stared at by a bloodthirsty tiger. His legs trembled and he almost retreated, but he seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move.
"This prince serves his father without any selfish motives."
"Yes... yes, I made a mistake!"
Lin Kui swallowed and responded with his head down, not daring to look up and meet Xiao Beiheng's gaze.
Xiao Beiheng withdrew his dangerous gaze and pretended to be fine.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Arrange Leng Shuang to serve Shen Yuexi personally and make sure she has a comfortable stay."
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