"You mean that person went to Yancheng and gave the Crown Prince a drug that could kill him?" Qin Xiaolin didn't expect the King of Liang to resort to such despicable means at this time.
But then he thought, "You're right, if the Crown Prince doesn't think about seeking pleasure, he won't be drugged."
"Perhaps I should have stopped that person back then..." Li Xi felt somewhat uneasy afterward.
He, however, did not take it seriously: "We should not meddle in the affairs between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Liang. A man like him is not vigilant enough and will get into trouble sooner or later because of other things."
The crown prince is involved in many things; it's only a matter of time before he's deposed.
The two talked for a long time in the study.
It wasn't until late at night that Qin Xiaolin returned to the Duke's mansion.
Another day passed, and news of the Crown Prince's outrageous deeds in Yancheng reached the capital.
The memorials impeaching the Crown Prince piled up on the emperor's desk, and the emperor's face turned ashen with anger. "Guards, issue an imperial decree..."
When the imperial edict arrived at the Liang Prince's residence, the Liang Prince was enjoying tea in his study.
He wore a light blue robe, his face calm, as if the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him.
Upon hearing the announcement of the imperial edict, he put down his cup. He calmly rose to greet it, and everything unfolded as he had anticipated.
Soon, King Liang led his men to Yancheng.
Standing on the city wall, Li Xi crossed his arms and looked coldly at the King of Liang not far below.
He looked excited and thrilled, as if he could already see himself ascending the throne.
Li Xi sneered inwardly. This Prince Liang was really impatient!
They did not hesitate to exploit the safety of the disaster victims to frame the crown prince.
Qin Xiaolin, who was standing to the side, noticed the anger and dissatisfaction on Li Xi's face. He gently held her hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, this Prince Liang won't be able to cause trouble for long."
Li Xi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her voice still carried a hint of anger: "I know my limits, but I can't stop the urge to slap him."
Qin Xiaolin smiled slightly and gently patted her shoulder to show his understanding.
They all understood that they had to remain calm and rational in the face of such a situation.
However, Li Xi's anger was difficult to quell.
She couldn't help but recall the time when Prince Liang forced Lan'er to become the palace physician; at that time, she hated him to the core.
Seeing his arrogant and domineering manner only fueled her hatred.
"One day, I'll put a sack over his head and beat him up to vent my anger," Li Xi said through gritted teeth.
"Okay, I'll distract his guards for you," Qin Xiaolin said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Li Xi couldn't help but laugh out loud, and her anger subsided somewhat.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic," Li Xi said seriously. "Let's go take care of our business first."
······
The news that Li Xi, dressed as a Lieutenant General, and the owner of Yinxian Manor were going to partner with Chairman Wang of the Qiyang Chamber of Commerce to open charitable halls in various places spread throughout the capital.
The whereabouts of the master of Yinxian Manor have always been a mystery.
I never expected him to personally step forward.
Everyone was speculating about what untold secrets were involved.
What shocked the Kyoto nobles even more was that this act of kindness was greatly appreciated by the Emperor, who personally received them.
"You three's righteous deeds have deeply moved me," the emperor said, sitting on his dragon throne.
Looking at the three kneeling below, he said, "Minister Li, Lord Feng, and Chairman Wang, I am deeply gratified by your efforts in establishing charitable halls in various places. What you have done is a benefit to the people of the world, and I am very pleased."
Li Xi spoke first, saying, "Your Majesty flatters us. We have only done our bit. The one who truly deserves praise is Master Feng. He was the one who started this."
Upon hearing this, Feng Monian immediately bowed his head humbly and said, "Your Majesty, I have only done my bit of effort. Without the strong support of Lord Li and Chairman Wang, this matter would not have been possible."
The emperor nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and said, "Master Feng is too modest. I know that all three of you are people who care about the world. I have summoned you to the palace today not only to commend your good deeds, but also to discuss something with you."
Upon hearing this, the three were startled and quickly said respectfully, "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."
The emperor took a deep breath and said slowly, "In recent years, natural disasters and man-made calamities have occurred frequently, and the people are living in poverty. Although I am willing to govern, the national treasury is empty and cannot support us. I hope you will raise funds from outside to help the people of our dynasty overcome their difficulties."
The other ministers present were all taken aback upon hearing this.
Li Xi spoke first, saying, "Your Majesty, we are afraid we are not up to the task."
The emperor nodded and said, "I know your difficulties. But I believe that the three of you are all intelligent people and will surely be able to come up with a solution. Here's what I'll do: I'll take 500,000 taels of silver from my private treasury."
Having obtained the treasure, the emperor was overjoyed and could easily take out 500,000 taels of silver.
Li Xi said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, we will do our utmost to raise funds for the court and help those disaster-stricken people overcome their difficulties."
Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he said, "Very well, I trust your abilities. I'll entrust this matter to the three of you."
The three men quickly bowed and said, "As you command."
Then the emperor slowly shifted his gaze to the other ministers and said in a deep voice, "What do you all think?"
His voice was deep and authoritative, carrying an unquestionable air.
The emperor's gaze was not kind; in fact, it could be described as somewhat sharp.
His gaze swept over everyone present, as if trying to see through their appearance to the depths of their hearts.
The ministers felt the emperor's gaze and lowered their heads in agreement: "We all believe that Your Majesty's words are very true, and we should act immediately to ensure the peace and security of the country."
Upon hearing the ministers' agreement, the emperor smiled with satisfaction.
He nodded slightly and said firmly, "Alright! In that case, you should cooperate well with Minister Li."
"Your subjects obey your command." The ministers bowed their heads in response.
"Very well, you may all leave. Minister Li, please come with me to the Imperial Study."
"yes······"
Li Xi followed the emperor to the imperial study. The study was quiet and solemn, with antique furnishings that showcased the majesty and nobility of the royal family.
The emperor sat down behind his desk and gestured for Li Xi to sit down in the chair next to him.
"Minister Li, this time it's up to the three of you. You must squeeze a sum of money out of those people."
The emperor's voice carried an undeniable firmness, clearly indicating his high hopes for this disaster relief fundraising effort.
Li Xi nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will do our utmost and live up to Your Majesty's trust."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject, saying, "However, I know you are also under considerable pressure. Those powerful families have always been a major concern for me. They control the economic lifeline of the court, but they often only care about their own interests and disregard the lives of the court and the people."
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