Xu Di shook his head and said, "I just feel a little uneasy. Let's get things arranged first. It would be best if nothing happens, but if something does, we'll be prepared. Alright, it's getting late. Let's get some rest. Who knows what might happen tomorrow?"
Xu Yao went to sleep with Xu Zhi, while Lin Zhining and Xu Di slept with Zheng Boyuan in the study in the front yard. Two of the better bamboo beds in the storeroom were brought over, with straw mattresses and quilts laid on them. Since it was hot, they could sleep through the night with just a small sheet over their stomachs.
Bai Ying had already burned the mosquito-repelling herbs that Bai Zhu had prepared in the incense burner. Now the room was filled with a pleasant smell of Chinese medicine, and there wasn't a single mosquito. After Lin Zhining lay down, he sniffed and asked Xu Di, "Brother, is this herbal medicine from Third Aunt's prescription?"
Xu Di smelled the familiar scent and said, "Yes, it's the medicine my mother prepared. Our house smells like this every summer. It's very effective; mosquitoes fly far away when they smell it."
Zheng Boyuan came out of the corner room, but he was thinking about the old woman he had interrogated in the backyard that night. After sitting down, he asked Xu Di, "Brother, why is the Third Prince so arrogant? He's like a mad dog, chasing after us and biting us."
Lin Zhining wasn't often in the capital, so he wasn't very clear about many things there. However, he had heard about the Third Prince wanting Xu Zhi to be his concubine a few years ago, so he found it somewhat amusing to hear Zheng Boyuan ask Xu Di this.
Xu Di lay on the bed, legs crossed, the one that was crossed swinging back and forth, and said, "Don't you know why he's like a mad dog? Xiao Jiu slapped him in the face, and you're still so promising. You two are already a big threat to him. If he eliminates you now, he might reduce some trouble for himself in the future."
Zheng Boyuan shook his head and said, "He's really bold. The First Prince and the Second Prince aren't as arrogant as him. His Majesty has warned them several times, but they still do as they please."
Xu Di sneered and said, "He does whatever he wants with us, but what is his attitude towards the Emperor? You have been away from the capital for a long time and are not very clear about many things. Although the Emperor controls the princes financially, you have your ways and I have my ways. The Third Prince makes money by relying on these court officials. As for the First Prince, his uncle is in the southwest and I heard that there are several silver mines with shady accounts. The Second Prince, because his maternal family is a family of upright officials, has some literati around him, but unfortunately he doesn't have any way to make money."
This was the first time Lin Zhining had heard these things, so he listened attentively. Seeing how attentive he was, Xu Di explained in extra detail.
"A few days ago, the Second Prince invited some scholars to a literary gathering on the mountain east of the city. The First Prince and the Third Prince insisted that the Second Prince was trying to win people's hearts, which led to a dispute in the court. The three princes argued their case and the argument became very heated. In the end, the Emperor lost his temper and pointed at the three princes, saying that they were killing each other, which finally calmed things down."
Zheng Boyuan snorted twice after hearing what Xu Di said, and said, "They're bringing their underhanded methods into the open. That's right. At this point, His Majesty still hasn't appointed a crown prince. As long as they can smear the other side's reputation and create a stain, they'll have a reason to oppose the appointment of a crown prince."
Lin Zhining laughed as he listened, saying, "It feels like a family quarrel. In our county, there's a family with five sons. The elderly father wanted to divide the inheritance among them, but the five sons attacked each other to get a larger share. One accused the other of being unfilial, another of being heartless. In the end, several elders from the county had to mediate. We all said that what these sons were doing was pointless. After they each have their own families and do what they need, it's always good to have three helpers. Brothers are the closest people. If they keep pushing and shoving, how can they not get along well in the future? Now, they've divided the inheritance and become enemies. How can they ask their brothers for help when they encounter difficulties?"
Zheng Boyuan and Lin Zhining are both only sons in their families, so they don't need to worry about how the family divides its assets. As for Xu Di, the family rules clearly state how the family will divide its assets. The real concern is that the children might cause trouble in the future over the family property, leading to unrest within the family and the loss of kinship.
Xu Di smiled and said, "Actually, it's all the same principle. It's just that His Majesty's wealth is that position. The princes are now trying every means to get His Majesty's favor for that position. Of course, they have to attack their rivals. There's no room for kinship in the imperial family anymore. It's all about the winner taking all and it's a matter of life and death."
Zheng Boyuan glanced out the window discreetly. Xu Di chuckled and said, "The mountains are high and the emperor is far away, so it's okay to say some unruly things. We've just gotten to this point in our conversation."
Lin Zhining looked at Xu Di, then at Zheng Boyuan. Zheng Boyuan smiled and said, "Of course. In my own courtyard, I am still in charge. I can't not speak freely in my own home."
Lin Zhining said with some concern, "We still need to be wary of eavesdroppers."
Xu Di looked at his two brothers-in-law, who still looked somewhat disheveled, swinging one leg as he said, "Let me tell you about my plans. Before I came here, I had already submitted a secret memorial to the Emperor. The purpose of my visit is to discuss the distribution of disaster relief funds from Chu Huaigui in previous years, as well as the distribution of disaster relief funds and grains from Miaozhou in previous years. The Emperor has already received several memorials regarding this."
Zheng Boyuan suddenly realized, "So that's why you let me and Azhi come to Miaozhou."
Seeing that Zheng Boyuan understood, Xu Di smiled and said, "I didn't tell you earlier because I was afraid you would inadvertently give yourself away after you arrived, giving these people time to prepare. Miaozhou experiences floods every two or three years, and the floods are rampant. Every year, the Ministry of Revenue allocates a lot of money for flood control, but the floods have not decreased. His Majesty is very angry about this. We have been secretly investigating the corruption in Miaozhou for two years, and it can be basically proven that Chu Huaigui and Wan Jingchen colluded to embezzle the disaster relief funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue. Moreover, there is evidence that they also corrupted several officials in the Ministry of Revenue."
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