Chapter 95: Two Masters. "Madam, before I came here, I...
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After Yan Siqing exposed his business background before, ordinary people were unable to find out, and it was still for the same reason. Economics is a very complicated matter, with one thing leading to another, and one person connected to another.
However, if the prince or the higher-ups in the Ministry of Revenue start racking their brains to investigate her.
It is not surprising that he was discovered. After being discovered, it would not be difficult to kill him - because the emperor is ruthless and can give power or take it away.
She was no match for these powerful people from the beginning.
Also at the beginning, at the bottom.
Merchants, no matter how rich you are, what does it matter?
Is there any difference between a fat sheep inlaid with gold and a fat sheep that is fat and edible?
The former will only attract more jackals.
"So, a chicken climbs onto a branch and almost becomes a phoenix, but because of its excessive pride and arrogance, it thinks it can be sold at a high price. The branch shakes even slightly, and the chicken loses its balance and falls."
"Tell me, is she hurt from the fall?"
He spoke seriously, yet also jokingly.
Because the room is enclosed and the windows are tightly shut, the daylight that penetrates is separated by a layer, the boundary between light and darkness, which lengthens the shadows and allows people's malice and greed to grow unchecked.
He stared at Yan Siqing as if he was staring at a plate of delicious meat from a magical bird that would make him infinitely stronger if eaten.
Yan Siqing leaned against the table. She had always been taller than the average woman and not weaker than most men, but her slender figure made her look even more graceful. In fact, she looked more youthful and elegant than the person in front of her.
Her eyelashes are long and dense, like the crest feathers of a phoenix perched on a wutong tree, and she raises her eyebrows to look at the other person.
She didn't say anything, but her eyes were deep.
In fact, they had only met and interacted a few times, but she always suppressed people with her eloquent words, completely ignoring the status of others, which had long made people feel uncomfortable.
Once this abnormal suppression reverses the situation, those in power will become more eager to express themselves.
Especially when you are sure of winning.
He was not satisfied with her calm reaction. He glanced at the window and door and was sure that the fighting was still going on outside.
He knew exactly how many people she had taken out of the palace and how many had entered the shop. He had it all under control.
"Madam, don't you want to remind me of two things?"
"First, you're now tied to Prince Yan's Mansion. How could I be so bold as to attack you? If the Ministry of Revenue were inspecting the shop, it would be fine, but why did I come here and attack you directly? Aren't you afraid that my big brother will come and hang me up and beat me?"
"Secondly, if you're not shocked, why me?"
Yan Siqing lowered her eyes, as if she was a little tired and lazy to contact or talk with him, and only said coldly, "I'd like to hear your answer."
This man was still not satisfied with her performance, so he could not get the satisfaction of revenge for the previous humiliation, but at least she was in control.
Whenever he thought about how everything about her was under his control, he couldn't suppress his joy. His eyebrows raised, and he continued to laugh, "Because, my eldest brother is the legitimate son of the Empress, he was originally revered and held in high esteem, and he has always been above us since he was a child. I'm much younger than him, so I haven't witnessed it myself, but I've seen their jealousy from others and from my second and third brothers. I heard that at first, they didn't even dare to have the slightest desire to become the crown prince, or even the emperor. It wasn't until later that they found out that my eldest brother was never chosen as the crown prince that they were confused, but also ambitious."
"Success and failure, high and low, all come together—suppose this Empress, out of jealousy and for the sake of her son's future, did something that infuriated my father without his knowledge, such as murdering one of his favorite youngest sons, burning the underground palace to death, from mother to child, and silencing the witnesses, leaving my father heartbroken and devastated. The Empress has passed away, but my eldest brother is still alive. Would my father still tolerate him?"
"So, the destruction of your Yan family is actually related to this matter."
"As soon as you left Prince Yan's Mansion, it was surrounded by the Imperial Guards. If your mother wasn't still inside, I wouldn't have dared to approach you directly. I was afraid you were so clever and had figured something out, or maybe you saw through me and were planning something. But since your mother is still in Prince Yan's Mansion, you definitely don't know anything about this."
"Then you won't be so difficult to deal with, Yan Siqing."
In fact, it is just like this - no matter how smart she is, once she loses power, she will be a lamb to be slaughtered.
Yan Siqing didn't seem to care about this fact at all. She had never spoken out in anger against the injustice caused by the oppression of her enemies.
Because it's useless.
She was silent for a moment, then spoke, "You set this up from the very beginning, a game within a game."
"Prince Lie's plan went awry. From the architect to the victim, it was you who knew their plan first, then used Zhan Tianli's scheme. You also saw my role in the White Horse Temple incident and included me in the calculation. It was me who brought down Prince Laqi and even Prince Lie."
Because Prince Qi and Prince Lie had indeed committed the most unacceptable things for an emperor, from colluding with the traitors in Snowman Valley to raising poison, no emperor could tolerate this, so...
"Chen Cangyu is actually yours."
"Really, Your Highness Prince Ling?"
Prince Ling lowered his eyes and smiled gently.
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Before the hot spring villa, before the gathering in Guanzhong City, and before Chen Cangyu met King Lie.
In a courtyard somewhere in Chang'an, Chen Cangyu pushed the door open and saw another prince eating hot pot and vegetables in the same manner.
His eyebrows twitched violently.
However, the difference is that this prince is in menopause and seems to be very far away from the throne.
But he was actually very close to that position.
Because King Qi was deposed, and King Lie was even worse than the former, he would definitely be executed. Now there was no need to count on one's fingers, just a glance and there were only two candidates.
The Banquet King, and...
"Your Highness Prince Ling urgently summoned me at this time. Aren't you afraid that I might reveal my flaws at this critical moment before something happens?"
Chen Cangyu was dissatisfied because he was a very cautious and extremely self-protective person and was not willing to take the risk to meet his "second master."
If they were discovered and the plan failed, these princes still had the ability and status to retreat as a backup, but he couldn't, so he would basically be completely defeated.
Unfortunately, it is difficult for those in higher positions to worry about the concerns of those below them.
Prince Ling just ate his food and didn't invite him to sit. He only said, "The plan is indeed important, but there are a few steps that need to be supplemented. The secret correspondence is too troublesome, and if it is exposed, it will become evidence. Today is the only day that is convenient to see you."
"I won't keep you in suspense. The most important thing about this plan is naturally using Yan Siqing to bring down Queen Lie. If I can control her—this woman is too unpredictable. She still doesn't quite understand my father's plans for her. Her skills and wealth have caught my father's eye. If I can't control this kind of person, she might realize I was the one who benefited after the incident and start investigating me. That wouldn't be a good thing."
"I heard that she cares deeply about her loyal followers and will definitely respond to their loyalty. She won't let anyone take the blame for her easily, right?"
It is indeed appropriate to ask my late husband. He must not be unaware of such things, right?
Chen Zangyu: "Yes, she is indeed such a person, and this point has not changed. So Your Highness wants to ask me about her business background?"
Prince Ling laughed: "Do you know? If you do, are you willing to tell me?"
The usual dandy prince now had a vicious and cunning look in his eyes, like a young and skinny jackal, tiger or leopard.
Chen Cangyu was as gentle as jade, not angry at all. He stood there, stroking his sleeves, and said slowly, "Her business talent is terrifying. I discovered it when she married me when she was young and we managed the business together. Later, her business grew bigger and bigger, but a large part of it was unknown to the public, so I naturally had no way of knowing it. At least, based on the business that I knew before I faked my death, it was definitely useless."
He saw the coldness and suspicion in King Ling's eyes.
After a pause, he added.
"But after my last visit to the Dali Temple, I've been exploring based on my distant memories. After all, if she has established a business in Chang'an now, it must have been established many years ago, so there are still traces to follow."
"I looked for it and found out a little bit."
So...Chen Cangyu still told King Ling.
Prince Ling: "This is very important. It can save me a lot of time and also give me a way to control her. Oh, there is one more thing."
Chen Zangyu: "Your Majesty, please speak."
Prince Ling: "This matter is over. My father has lost three sons in a row, and in the end, I benefited. Without solid evidence, the court will not suspect a cowardly prince like me without the help of relatives. But what about you? By then, you will have been imprisoned for Prince Lie's affairs."
Chen Zangyu was silent for a moment, then said, “There is a way. Otherwise, even if I had to help Your Highness succeed in conquering the dragon, I wouldn’t risk my life. I dare to say this, but you won’t believe it.”
Hahahaha, that’s true.
Prince Ling laughed, "So, if you won't say this is your trump card, then I will force you to do it. After all, there are no secrets at all. I just want to make sure that you won't betray me."
His eyes suddenly turned fierce, and he threw the shrimp tail, which he had bitten off most of, into the bowl opposite him.
This is the implication: he eats the fattiest ones, but allows this man to eat the tails.
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So, Chen Cangyu is still in the Heavenly Prison, and no one knows how he will escape, but King Ling knows that he will not betray himself, because no matter who he clings to, as long as he fails, he will die.
Prince Ling guessed that his trump card to save his life was related to other traitors in the Ministry of War.
This person is the best at saving his own life, and everyone is a springboard for him to climb up and use.
But looking back, Prince Ling looked at Yan Siqing and asked, "Did you suddenly figure it out?"
He was still on guard and testing the waters, but he was getting closer.
I seem to smell a faint fragrance at the tip of my nose.
Yan Siqing remained motionless. "If he had actually knelt at your feet, then he wouldn't have warned you—at this juncture, regardless of whether Prince Yan's Mansion had fallen, if you had jumped out and attacked me like this, His Majesty would surely be suspicious if he knew."
"This is a move that can instantly turn a whole winning streak into a loss."
"This isn't the way you plan something like this."
"That's not his style."
Prince Ling was only two steps away from her, and he could have grabbed her jaw with his hand. "The reason I was so anxious to attack you and seemed so impatient was not because I had any vulgar lustful thoughts about you, my lady. I am not that despicable."
"I'm just worried that Madam is so smart that she might sense the danger and escape from Chang'an."
"You should know that if Prince Yan's mansion is disturbed, Chang'an will be in chaos. At that time, it will be difficult for me to distract myself and determine your whereabouts."
"If you are captured at Prince Yan's mansion, you will still be in my father's hands, and you will most likely be guarded by people like Wei Tingzhong. If my predictions are correct, even if these people won't go against the emperor's orders for you, they will definitely treat you well."
"That would also bring some risks to this king, so I have to keep you under control."
Yan Siqing: "There's quite a commotion right now. Unless you, Your Highness, control the troops in Chang'an, there's no way you can take me away."
Prince Ling suddenly laughed, and his laugh was sinister and cunning.
"Take you away?"
"Why are you still so self-righteous?"
"In fact, it will soon be known that you risked your life here to burn the books that prove your shop is illegal. To uphold economic justice, I came to apprehend you. I encountered you and tried to stop you. You actually attempted to attack me with a dagger... During the struggle, I accidentally killed you."
"If you die here, the Shen family will inherit your property."
"Madam, before I came here, I was determined to kill you."
"But...why is it that now that I'm about to succeed, I feel a little reluctant to let go?"
The dagger under his sleeve was about to press against Yan Siqing's throat.
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