Chapter 163 The Old Emperor Investigates the True Culprit of the Poisoning^^……
"Your Highness, that's wonderful...!" Xiao Dezi was so excited that he wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat, and his face turned a little red.
Having grown up in the Second Prince's household, he never imagined that his prince would be so highly regarded; it was almost like a dream. This was a meteoric rise! The injustices and suffering his prince had endured were finally being seen and protected!
Your Majesty, you've finally seen the light!
Xiao Chengzi's lips had just curled into a smile when the timid one looked worried, hesitating to speak: "Is His Majesty's favor... really a good thing? We should stay here and be well..."
In his shallow opinion, wouldn't it be better for them to stay in this remote corner and be local tyrants, having just painstakingly established themselves in Liuzhou? Why... do they have to go back to the capital to fight for that little bit of recognition? To plunge into those bloody battles and go back to their old life? If they're not careful, His Highness might not even have a good ending?
Xiao Chengzi was terrified just thinking about it.
Call him unambitious if you will, but he felt that His Highness had worked so hard to earn his current comfortable life, and how could this tangible stability not be better than the illusory wealth and glory in the palace?
"Foolish." Qi Chengming scolded them without any reproach, then relaxed and calmly sat back on the edge of the bed, asking in return, "Why do you think I was poisoned? How long do you think I could stay in this place after I devised the ration coupons and the three types of high-yield grains?"
If he hadn't known the contents of the book he transmigrated into, and that he wouldn't be tolerated by the emperor who would later ascend the throne... would Qi Chengming have been willing to risk his life to fight for the throne? Who wouldn't want to stay in the comfortable nest he had built, eating and waiting to die?
But this is an unsolvable paradox.
Which modern person who transmigrated could stand by and watch the people live in such misery? He also has an infrastructure system with all sorts of useful items; could he resist using them to improve people's lives? Besides, he knew from the moment he introduced the ration coupons that they were of great significance, even capable of shaking the imperial power... and yet he still used them.
To reiterate, if he has the ability and capacity to improve people's lives, why shouldn't he do it? Even if he's terrified of bringing trouble upon himself in the future... he can't just swallow his pride and pretend to be incompetent to save his life forever.
So the more he does, the more he reveals everything he has, the more others will indeed fear him. It will be impossible for him not to vie for the throne and compete for that position.
The two eunuchs' faces darkened, and they seemed to be deep in thought.
Qi Chengming wanted to cultivate them, so he was unwilling to elaborate further. He turned his gaze to Song Gu, who was standing quietly in the open space. This experienced eunuch understood the meaning, but his expression remained calm and composed, showing neither elation nor worry, as serene as a pillar of stability.
Qi Chengming couldn't help but smile at Song's composed demeanor, which suggested he was already prepared. "What does Steward Song think?"
Song Gu spoke in a low, methodical tone: “This is a preliminary list I have compiled, divided into three parts. The team that will escort Your Highness back to the palace, the list of personnel responsible for matters in Liuzhou City, and how the ‘hidden households’ belonging to the Prince Rui’s residence should be assigned… I would appreciate Your Highness’s guidance.”
As expected of a Song dynasty official!
Qi Chengming was thrilled.
This shows that he had long wanted to return to the palace, and in the short time since the news broke, he had already thought about how to proceed.
He took the thick stack of papers and looked at them.
On the surface, the escort team for Qi Chengming's return to the capital was the same as before, consisting of the same Imperial Guards. However, this time, the team was expanded to include personnel from Prince Rui's residence, bringing the total number of people to a thousand.
Even so, this was a list barely made up by cutting many talented people from the Prince Rui's residence. Those who were retained were indeed written on the list of those left behind.
Qi Chengming glanced at these fundamental changes and then ignored them.
He didn't know how the palace would arrange his accommodations; the worst-case scenario was that he would be sent back to the Second Prince's residence temporarily. From the moment he decided to return to the capital, he was bound to suffer injustices and would have to reduce his household size and bring only trusted confidants. He was mentally prepared for this.
Qi Chengming was more concerned with how to arrange things for his confidants and the territory of Liuzhou.
After two years of infiltration, the magistrates of several prefectures and counties were all sons of powerful local families and scholars who were loyal to him, and spies had also been infiltrated among the common people. With Prefect Mu and Prefect Lu above him, these were his core supporters, and they could operate on their own after he left.
"Cross out the names of Mr. Huang, Mr. Qin, and Brother Bai. Add Master He's name to the list of those returning to the capital," Qi Chengming said, skimming through the lines and making numerous edits. Song Gu, not needing to take notes, listened with his eyes lowered.
Huang Dong was to remain in Silver Island Prefecture to continue overseeing the smuggling of salt and silver. His line of work was crucial to the supply of military provisions to the Jiangnan caravan and the Northern Mighty Army, and it was extremely confidential and important, so he could not leave without it.
Qin Liusong will be taking the imperial examination next year, and he will have to return to his hometown to take the exam, so we will not be taking him back to the capital.
Bai Xuan's entire family is based in the south, so it wasn't suitable for them to leave with him.
As for Master He… although he has been busy managing floods in other places, Qi Chengming still remembers his heroic figure in the original book and admires his advanced ideas. When Qi Chengming is almost alone, he will rely entirely on this gentleman.
The third list of "hidden households" included members of the militia and retired soldiers who were left to be cared for. However, their whereabouts were not indicated; this was left to His Highness to decide by Song Gu.
"..." Qi Chengming pondered this for a long time.
This is his private army.
It was his last guarantee that if he were to be defeated in the capital, he would have a way out and could be abducted to Silver Island's residence overnight to protect himself.
However, if they're too far away, they won't be able to save him. If they're too close, his disloyalty will be discovered too early...
Qi Chengming hesitated for a long time before Song Gu offered a timely and considerate advice: "Your Highness, we don't have the money to support you."
"Let's leave it at that for now, let them stay," Qi Chengming said, relenting.
Once he arrived in the capital, without the support of an entire fiefdom, he appeared to be penniless. Any unusual activity involving silver or iron would be the easiest way to uncover his true intentions. He wanted to seize the throne, not rebel. He couldn't afford to hand over his biggest weakness to his opponent.
"Understood, I'll have everyone prepare in secret right away." After Song Gu hurriedly left with the revised list that had taken most of the time, Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi exchanged a glance and asked the same question: "When does Your Highness plan to depart?"
"No rush, let things escalate further, let someone panic." Qi Chengming suddenly laughed, a smile tinged with a mysterious malice.
Look.
His poisoning, his weakness, his triumphant return with all sorts of titles, and his only period of vulnerability on his journey home.
Would someone be unable to resist taking action against him?
This is probably the only chance to deal with him before returning to the palace.
Qi Chengming's fishing method is to use a straight hook without any bait, just to see if anyone can't hold on and is willing to take the bait.
Xiao Chengzi nodded slowly, his round face becoming solemn.
The weight he'd gained over the past two years hadn't been for nothing. While he couldn't run fast, he could still shield his prince from harm in crucial moments. His prince had his plans; his job was simply to protect him.
...
That evening, Cui, the secret envoy, finally found an opportunity to secretly meet with Eunuch Dai Xiyu under a wall in the courtyard. His earlier signal during the day had not been in vain.
Facing this unassuming Grand Eunuch before the Emperor, Cui, the secret envoy, reverted to his usual cold, businesslike tone: "By order of His Majesty, please tell me the truth, Grand Eunuch."
What should I say? I should say the results of the mission dispatched by His Majesty's secret decree last time.
Upon seeing Cui Anshi, Dai Xiyu breathed a sigh of relief, even more excited than seeing a family member. Finally, she could get rid of this hot potato!
He blurted out everything he had investigated over the past few days. First, all the rumors turned out to be true! Not only were they not exaggerated, but they were even quite understated. They had also witnessed the earth-shaking changes in Liuzhou and other places with their own eyes.
Another issue is that the person who poisoned Prince Rui has not yet been identified; all that can be seen is that the mastermind is connected to the palace. As for whether His Majesty will investigate further... that depends entirely on his will.
"You don't need to worry about these things anymore. Come back to the capital with me this time, and I'll tell His Majesty about them then." Cui, the secret envoy, felt his heart burning even hotter and gave the order in a deep voice.
With both pieces of evidence corroborating each other, he knew clearly that before he set off, His Majesty had already obtained certain clues. The group secretly targeting Prince Rui was not just one, but at least two. However, His Majesty temporarily suppressed the investigation at this point.
At that time, Cui Anshi did not understand what His Majesty was hesitating about with his ambiguous attitude.
He pondered this for a long time along the way.
But now, listening to Eunuch Dai's testimonies... does Prince Rui really possess great talent and ambition? Were all those fantastical stories fabricated by Prince Rui's mansion?
Understood.
If he goes back and reports all of this to His Majesty, His Majesty will surely not hesitate!
"Yes, yes," Dai Xiyu forced a smile and replied reluctantly.
He thought this had nothing to do with him anymore, so why did he have to personally report back to His Majesty?
The head eunuch sighed inwardly.
If His Majesty and Prince Rui fall out in the future, he will be caught between the two!
"...Fine, since you're so unwilling, then forget it. It doesn't matter who reports." Cui Anshi's tone was somewhat slow, he glanced at Dai Xiyu with pity, and then changed his words coldly.
He deserved the credit and the opportunity to get ahead. Originally, he and Eunuch Dai had different roles, but they were supposed to share the same reward. In fact, Dai Xiyu was the one who was assigned first, and he was the one who arrived later.
But now it seems...
They're not happy about it!
Such a short-sighted person, constantly fearing trouble if he gets involved, no wonder he fell into such a sorry state after rising to the rank of Grand Eunuch in the Emperor's court—he couldn't even seize an opportunity. So don't blame him for fighting for it!
Cui, the secret envoy, readily accepted the task and listened to Dai Xiyu recount even more details. Dai, the eunuch, then thanked him in return.
The next day, a thick letter was sent to the capital through a secret channel.
Upon receiving the letter, Emperor Hongren was radiant, his face flushed, and all traces of his recent hesitation, indecision, and agonizing sighs were gone. He lowered his voice and summoned the old eunuch:
"Go to the inner palace and get that so-called 'aunt' that Xiao Tao mentioned, and interrogate her severely! Also, investigate the people who impeached Prince Rui on the day of the grand court assembly!"
Emperor Hongren did not believe it.
Why would someone who wanted to poison the second prince bother to impeach him and put him in the spotlight to attract attention? Wouldn't that just make things more complicated for their own conspiracy?
The second prince is a truly fine piece of jade.
He then had no more worries and was ready to thoroughly investigate who these demons and monsters behind it all were!
Emperor Hongren thought of his eldest son, whose face had become increasingly honest and obedient over this period; his youngest son, whose appearance had become even more clever and adorable; and his eldest son, who had repented of his past mistakes. Then, thinking back on their past misdeeds… all those wrongdoings seemed to vanish completely like fleeting clouds, almost making him doubt his own memory.
snort……
If all his sons were really that good, why would he hold his nose and recall his least favorite second prince?
In an instant, both the imperial court and the harem were thrown into turmoil.
Those who were unaware of the situation were filled with fear and unease, and even the Empress Dowager was alarmed. However, Emperor Hongren remained unmoved and insisted on continuing, showing an determination to thoroughly investigate the matter of his beloved son's injustice and find the real culprit.
...What Emperor Hongren wanted was to use this incident to make an example of someone.
He saw through his scheming sons and court officials.
You can try to use underhanded tactics, but from now on you can only do things openly. Be honest and act as a whetstone, and never allow anyone to do such a despicable thing as damaging a prince's body or life!
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Author's Note: The officials in the capital (shocked): That rumor was indeed true... The Second Prince really is the beloved son that His Majesty is secretly protecting!
Shen Shuzhi's eldest son, who contributed to spreading the rumors (proud and gratified): My father really didn't lie to me!
Reborn officials (dazed): Where did this rumor come from? Aren't our people the ones secretly protecting the Second Prince?
Shen Shuzhi (gaze wanders)...
Oh no, what was said turned into reality, and the whole thing has somehow come full circle.
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