Secondly, if this matter were brought up by Qin Qianluo or Su Jinyun, the situation would be completely different.
Given Crown Prince Xiao's cautious, suspicious, and easily frightened nature, he would be easily startled if he sensed that these two individuals of special status and significant influence in the court had brought up the matter.
They would instantly feel as if facing a formidable enemy, alarms would sound, and they would involuntarily raise layers of defenses.
Once this vigilance is established, it will be like a breach in a dam, which could very likely alert Prince Xiao.
This caused the entire meticulously planned and interconnected scheme to shatter in an instant, like a fragile piece of glass, resulting in utter failure.
All the effort and hard work put into this will be in vain, turning into nothing.
The two walked slowly along the winding, ornate palace path toward the Imperial Study.
The journey was so quiet that time seemed to stand still, with only the soft, rhythmic sound of their footsteps audible.
And the occasional clear bird calls from afar echoed in the quiet space like heavenly music.
The surrounding palace walls were tall and imposing, standing silently like guards.
Silently watching their every move, witnessing this seemingly ordinary yet subtly mysterious scene.
Everything was as peaceful and orderly as ever, as if time had stood still here, without the slightest ripple.
However, beneath this calm surface, undercurrents are surging, and the thoughts and plans of all parties are silently clashing.
Ning Yuancheng's expression gradually relaxed as he moved, and his tense nerves slowly eased, as if he were in a safe and secure place.
He even took the initiative to chat with Pei Yanci about many matters with great interest.
From the delicate balance of power among various factions in the imperial court to the everyday lives and diverse aspects of life of ordinary people.
From the current situation to future development plans that are full of uncertainties.
The topics covered a wide range of topics, and the conversation flowed smoothly, like two close friends who had known each other for many years having a heartfelt conversation.
In this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, the last trace of doubt that had been lingering in Ning Yuancheng's heart like a thread was swept away like smoke by a gentle breeze.
It vanished completely into nothingness, as if it had never existed.
In fact, deep down, Ning Yuancheng held a cold and indifferent attitude towards the lives and deaths of the people who were suffering from the merciless devastation of the flood.
The suffering of those people had nothing to do with him; it was merely an insignificant backdrop on the stage of his life.
However, he was not unaware of the implications. He knew perfectly well that he had not yet ascended to the supreme throne, revered by all.
In this imperial court, his every move was under the spotlight, attracting attention from all sides.
If, at this moment, one were to openly display indifference to the suffering of the people in front of everyone, it would undoubtedly be like throwing a boulder into a calm lake.
This instantly stirred up a huge wave of controversy, causing a tremendous uproar and severely impacting his hard-earned reputation and his future path to the throne.
It could even become an insurmountable obstacle on his path to the top.
Anyway, there's still a year before he ascends the throne and becomes emperor. During this time, he's just pretending to care about the world and the people.
For someone skilled in disguise and adept at political maneuvering, this was not a difficult task.
He only needs to show just the right amount of concern and worry in front of others, say some high-sounding words, and do some superficial work to deceive everyone's eyes.
Ning Yuancheng pondered this to himself, his mind racing with calculations, but his face maintained a gentle, kind, and concerned expression, without the slightest flaw.
He seemed to be a wise and virtuous crown prince who wholeheartedly cared for the people and devoted himself to their well-being, which moved people deeply.
Upon entering the Imperial Study, Ning Yuancheng walked with practiced ease to the Crown Prince's designated spot, as if returning to his most familiar territory.
His movements were elegant and composed, like a highly skilled dancer performing perfect steps on stage.
He slowly sat down, leaning back slightly, his expression relaxed and at ease, as if the whole world was under his control, exuding an aura of royalty.
He waited quietly for Pei Yanci to continue his narration, his eyes seemingly focused, but in reality, he was already distracted.
At this moment, his thoughts had already drifted far away, immersed in his own greedy calculations.
He secretly plotted how much silver he could cleverly pocket from the various matters related to dealing with the floods in the south.
It satisfies one's ever-expanding, bottomless greed without arousing suspicion or detection from others.
After all, in his narrow and greedy mindset, these silver coins, which were originally intended to help the people and save the world, were...
In the future, all of it will rightfully belong to him and become part of his treasure trove.
He felt a pang of heartache, as if his own flesh were being torn away, to waste money on ordinary people who were as insignificant as ants in his eyes.
Each coin seemed to have been forcibly ripped from his own body.
Therefore, he was determined that the more he could pocket, the more he would earn, without realizing how selfish and short-sighted his thinking was.
As Ning Yuancheng was completely absorbed in his narrow-minded and selfish calculations, his mind was like a machine running at high speed.
While repeatedly weighing how to make the most of disaster relief funds and line their own pockets as much as possible.
Qin Qianluo and Su Jinyun left the court pretending to be nonchalant, while Yu Ji patiently waited for her opportunity in a secret place outside the palace.
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