Chapter 169 (Chapter 169) A cornered dog will jump over the wall...
"Gantang, go and tell the person who gave you this advice that I appreciate their kindness, but there's no need for them to do anything about it."
Qi Chengming pushed open the door and gave instructions, then turned to Xiao Dezi, telling him to give the order: "We'll be on the ship for most of the return trip, so it's best to find out more about those two guards. Keep a close eye on them no matter what they do."
"Yes," Xiao Dezi replied, feeling much more at ease. Since His Highness hadn't said anything, it probably wasn't a big deal.
Qi Chengming put his hands behind his back, walked onto the deck, and looked out at the fleet that had already set sail.
The river was turbulent, just as his mood was far from calm on the surface.
He wasn't stupid. He didn't brazenly extend his reach to several other prefectures and send people there to take over flood control and dike repair. Instead, he announced the cement formula, and on the surface, it was just that several prefects were learning from Prefect Mu, and the flood control experts he brought back from his jurisdiction were being taught and instructed.
The subsequent states all chose to reinforce their dikes before the arrival of the rainy spring and summer seasons, which is a normal annual procedure. However... upon closer investigation, the only connection he couldn't escape was that many of the inventions and innovations of his prescriptions had leaked from him, the Prince of Rui.
Therefore, the advice from the two guards was better than nothing.
The facts are there, and as long as they appear logical on the surface, that's enough. If someone uses this to attack him in court, Shen Shuzhi will undoubtedly speak up for him and refute them, especially since Lord Shen is extremely skilled in water management. If all his inventions combined make Emperor Hongren wary, even a hundred officials speaking up for Qi Chengming wouldn't make a difference.
Qi Chengming appreciated the gesture. If the investigation revealed no problems, he would seriously consider Cui Anshi's defection... It would also be good to write a letter to the capital so that his people could prepare a response as soon as possible.
Gan Tang regained her composure and, with a smile, began to report on other trivial matters: "Your Highness, it's time to make summer clothes these next few days, just in time for the trip. Everyone else has already started making theirs. For Your Highness's personal clothes, are you planning to buy good fabric along the way and have the embroiderers make them, or are you going to make some fashionable patterns along the way?"
She was also thinking that His Highness was going back to the capital this time, and wanted to see if he should have a few suitable clothes made. His Highness has always been simple and kind to the people, and he has dressed very plainly in previous years. This was fine in the remote vassal states, but he was going to return to the capital, where there was a lot of turmoil and people fawning over the powerful and oppressing the weak... Gan Tang asked this question because she was careful to keep her distance.
Qi Chengming thought it was reasonable and was about to agree, but then he had a sudden thought and changed his mind: "We're in a poor, remote place, what fashionable clothes could we possibly have? Let the embroiderers in the mansion make me a couple of outfits first, and we'll see what they're like when we get to Tanzhou."
"Yes." Gan Tang took her leave without objection.
Only Xiao Chengzi remained silently following behind Qi Chengming.
He looked at the rolling river and the several ships in front of and behind the main ship. Even from a distance, he could see the Imperial Guards standing guard every few steps, their defenses tight. When they reached the new location for resupply, the fleet's security would only be even tighter, preventing any unauthorized personnel from approaching the ships, lest they be set on fire like they had when they encountered Bai Xuan on the way here.
"Xiao Chengzi, do you think anyone with ulterior motives would still approach me under these circumstances?" Qi Chengming seemed to be muttering to himself.
Xiao Chengzi shook his head, quite proudly: "Lord Mao and the guards have put in their best efforts. Even if many of them are not good swimmers, we have many southerners in our household who are good at swimming. We are familiar with the procedures for this trip, and we will do our best to ensure that there are no mistakes and protect His Highness's safety."
"Yes, even I don't like too many people serving me. I always rely on just a few of you." Qi Chengming pondered. Unless it was another sudden attack like Xiao Tao's, who had been lying in wait for several years, there were few strangers on his fleet. It would be extremely difficult to attack from the outside, like a hedgehog that was hard to bite.
"So, some people in the capital must be extremely anxious, right?" Qi Chengming looked at Xiao Chengzi meaningfully, and Xiao Chengzi seemed to understand.
The young prince subtly beckoned, and once his personal eunuch drew near, they began to plot in hushed tones.
That's right.
Qi Chengming was very kind; he planned to deliberately create an opening for them.
For no other reason than that... even a fool would know that if he couldn't make a move on the road, and someone in the palace had ulterior motives, Qi Chengming, without any powerful connections, would have a hard time protecting himself. He himself was relatively easy to deal with, like an unkillable cockroach. But those around Qi Chengming were all mortals, and he would feel heartbroken if any of them were injured or harmed.
It would be better to make a show of it on the road and see if we could take the opportunity to lure out the big fish behind the scenes and eliminate him in advance. Even if we couldn't, this performance would allow Qi Chengming to gain a legitimate audience with Emperor Hongren. No matter how unpopular he was, the emperor clearly couldn't tolerate someone plotting against his offspring, so at least he would be an ally.
As for the date... let's choose Tanzhou.
Qi Chengming lowered his eyes.
The day they arrived in Tanzhou was in June, and the weather was hot. Qi Chengming, who usually stayed on the ship and rarely went out for a stroll, took Xiao Chengzi and Gan Tang with three or five imperial guards following behind for covert protection. When the ship stopped to resupply, they entered Tanzhou City and went straight to the embroidery workshop.
Originally, as soon as the plan of "willing to take the bait" was proposed, Song Gu wanted to go along, and even He Dajia insisted on going along. Xiao Dezi was even more unwilling to stay.
But Qi Chengming rejected them all.
As the chief steward, Song Gu had to oversee the entire operation in case of any trouble and couldn't act arbitrarily. The same applied to Xiao Dezi, who was the personal eunuch. Since Xiao Chengzi had gone with Qi Chengming, Xiao Dezi was now in charge of managing things in the main courtyard.
As for Gan Tang, she was in charge of all the affairs in the main courtyard, fulfilling the duties of a future princess consort. The matter of tailoring clothes and hiring embroiderers was her responsibility.
"Then why can't I... come along?" He San Tie was very puzzled and anxious at the time, and emphasized as if making a vow, "I will never hold Your Highness back!"
Although he is a scholar, he has formally studied archery, horsemanship, and the Six Arts of a Gentleman. He is not weak and helpless! He can help out if necessary!
Knowing full well that this was the future Crown Prince, how could he dare to let someone go out on an adventure alone with such trepidation?!
Qi Chengming thought to himself:
"It's precisely because I know you're such a formidable fighter that I can't let you go, Lord He!"
'With you here, why would I need to set a trap?'
Did you see how the seemingly weak and gentle Lady He acted when the palace coup occurred in the original story? He single-handedly took the lead and held off the rebels. He also cleverly directed the eunuchs and palace maids who had temporarily gathered to guard the gate, turning the tide of the battle. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he was safe, but died from his serious injuries.
When the truth came out later, it shocked everyone.
Would Qi Chengming dare to let such a powerful person follow him?
Once a fight breaks out, even if the other side sends a group of people, there are too many things that can be used in a place like the city... In the end, will it be a group of people beating him, or will Lord He be chasing after them?
Moreover, Qi Chengming was unwilling to harm his beloved general, Lord He.
So Qi Chengming had no choice but to come up with an excuse: "Alright. I usually don't move at all, and I'm only going out for important business. Lord He, you tell me, does it sound reasonable for you to come with me to the embroidery workshop?"
He San Tie was speechless and retreated in defeat.
Qi Chengming then changed his clothes and went out looking like a wealthy young master.
"Young Master, let's go to the embroidery shop to look at the patterns first. If we make them on the spot, it might be too late. If you see anything you like, we can sign a contract and hire some embroiderers." Gan Tang, dressed as a maid, followed by her and introduced the situation.
Qi Chengming nodded.
Having been in this world for two or three years, he had learned that the wealthier the family, the more self-assured they were, and they would never buy ready-made clothes. For a prince like him, all his clothes were provided by the palace. Even after Qi Chengming went to his fiefdom, his household still had its own embroiderers.
As a prince, he wasn't subject to the same strict restrictions as those in the palace. He could have his own clothes made outside the palace and hire embroiderers if he wanted. However, Qi Chengming had never liked doing so.
Now look, isn't this vulnerability there?
Xiao Chengzi was the most nervous person throughout. He tried his best to relax his stiff shoulders and expression, not wanting to hold His Highness back. To calm himself down, he lowered his voice and scanned the crowd on the quiet street, asking ambiguously, "Young Master... really...?"
Qi Chengming knew what he wanted to say, and patted Xiao Chengzi on the shoulder—he had to tilt his head up slightly to do so. Xiao Chengzi was older than him and now looked like a handsome young man, except for his round face. He was nothing like the completely eunuch-like figure he had been a few years ago.
"Don't worry, it's not certain." Qi Chengming had only set a trap, and he couldn't say for sure whether anyone would fall for it.
Who knows who's behind this...maybe it's the Seventh Prince, or maybe someone else is just too patient to take the bait. Or perhaps they think starting with the embroiderer is a more subtle and covert approach?
It is impossible to know what the other party will do today.
The journey to the embroidery workshop was uneventful. Qi Chengming looked at many patterns and ready-made clothes, and listened intently to what styles were currently popular in the capital and what kind of fabrics were the best this year...
Then, Gantang skillfully selected two embroiderers, one older and one younger than the other. Although they weren't the most outstanding in the embroidery workshop, their skills were still top-notch.
It wasn't until they did a simple check of their identities and backgrounds, went to the government office to register their contracts, and agreed that they would work for their new employer for the next three years before being taken back home... that Qi Chengming and his group were still safe and sound.
Xiao Chengzi was no longer flustered. His suspicious gaze kept falling on his toes, but he didn't dare to turn around and look directly at the embroiderers.
...Isn't it going to happen to these two embroiderers?
Qi Chengming suddenly had a thought.
For his own safety, he kept the infrastructure system page open when he went out today. He saw a dense array of names surrounding him—all loyal members of his Imperial Guard. The warehouse page also displayed information, allowing Qi Chengming to use emergency pills at any time.
Suddenly, the names of the people became chaotic, unlike their previous orderly, clandestine following.
Qi Chengming turned his head and looked—
They had just left the embroidery workshop and were walking along a narrow street lined with shops on both sides, bustling with people. Suddenly, something happened behind them; a commotion arose, and the crowd began to push and shove.
"Watch out!" Xiao Chengzi shouted, tensing up as he reached out to grab his prince.
This sudden crowd could easily scatter them, which would be a big problem.
'Someone has started making a move!'
This was Qi Chengming's first reaction.
The five or six imperial guards around him struggled to get closer to him, trying to protect him. Xiao Chengzi gripped Qi Chengming's wrist tightly, slowly closing the distance between them. It was only a matter of time before they joined forces.
"Go to the alley next door!" Youzi gestured for them to turn to the side; they couldn't stay on the main street any longer. The alley next door was quiet and deserted, giving them room to do as they pleased.
Qi Chengming staggered, finally reaching the alley to catch his breath. As soon as he raised his head, his pupils contracted slightly.
"Watch out!" Gan Tang cried out in alarm.
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