Chapter 43: Secrets Xiao Wangshu never thought that he would get Nian Yue...
Another half month passed, and Nian Yue's entry into the palace went extremely smoothly under the arrangement of the prince.
But Xiao Wangshu never expected that he would hear the news that Nian Yue was named a beauty.
"The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, proclaims:
"Gu, the daughter of the Licheng prefect, is a gentle and kind woman. Her quiet and graceful demeanor has won my heart. I have specially appointed her a sixth-rank beauty, bestowed the name "Wan," and placed her in Lingxi Pavilion. I decree this!"
Lady Wan has yet to accept the decree and express her gratitude."
The eunuch chief spoke in a shrill voice, his tone was full of rhythm, he had a fake smile on his face, and his cloudy eyes were full of evil intentions.
"Nian Yue thanks His Majesty. Long live His Majesty!"
Nian Yue took the imperial edict with a peaceful smile on her face. She held the imperial edict in her left hand and let it hang naturally. With her right hand, she took out a silver ingot from her purse and put it into the eunuch's hand. She said in a natural tone:
"It's just a small token of my respect, I hope you won't despise it."
"My beauty, you are so humiliating to me. You have never even slept with me, yet you have given me the title of beauty. Your Majesty is very kind to me. Your willingness to give me something is a sign of grace."
That being said, the eunuch was quite fast in collecting the money, but he did not notice the hatred that flashed across the eyes of the newly promoted Concubine Wan when he mentioned His Majesty.
"In reply to the beauty, according to Zhongshan law, Your Majesty can have a personal maid. Your Majesty has a candidate, but if you don't have one, it's no big deal. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will send one to you this afternoon.
There is one more thing I need to tell you, my lady. Since you are moving to Lingxi Pavilion, please don't forget to visit the head lady of Lingxi Pavilion, Concubine Liu. She is extremely kind, so don't worry. As for the rest, I will take my leave now, my lady.
It was June, the height of summer, and the Imperial Gardens were ablaze with vibrant blossoms, their rich fragrance almost stagnating in the sweltering air. Yet, this blazing vitality could do nothing to warm the heart of the beautiful woman, Nian Yue.
After dinner, it was already dark. She sat by the window of a side hall in Lingxi Pavilion, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the leaves of a pot of jasmine. Having entered the palace for several months, she had always been cautious, as if only to prepare for the day when she could kill her enemies, but she had never imagined that she would be in such a position.
"Miss Wan" is such a ridiculous title. This identity is like a gorgeous golden collar that makes her breathless.
It doesn't matter, at least her chances are much greater. She can only comfort herself in this way, because her enemy is the owner of this forbidden garden, the man who gives her the "honor" she has today.
When she woke up late at night, the scenes of her parents' tragic death and the destruction of her family were always intertwined with the emperor's face, which was either majestic or smiling, making her wake up in fright and sweat.
Fortunately, she went to Licheng to seek help, but unexpectedly she met the current head of the Lu family there, and learned about her life experience - the head of the Lu family claimed that she looked like an old friend.
Her mother was born in the Lu family and was the half-sister of the late queen. She later married her father, a successful grain merchant. Although their family was not wealthy, they lived a rich and happy life with a kind father and a loving mother.
But he never expected that a natural disaster would strike suddenly. In the 15th year of Tongji, there was a severe drought in the north, and his father was thrown into prison on trumped-up charges. The head of the Lu family thought about it later and found that this was a move by the dog emperor to purge the aristocratic families from the beginning.
In order to save her father, her mother took her to Licheng to seek help from the then head of the Lu family, who was also her grandfather.
But His Majesty originally wanted to use her father as a guide to weaken the power of the aristocratic family. Her grandfather was dismissed from his official position because of this. Not long after, news came back from the prison that her father committed suicide out of fear of punishment - this was naturally impossible.
When the mother heard the news, she was so angry that she fell seriously ill.
As if it weren't raining, Licheng had been hit by heavy rain for several days, and the river embankment was actually washed away by the rising river water. When she was fleeing, she got separated from her mother's family. Perhaps she hit her head, and she was confused and mixed with beggars.
Her mother was already seriously ill, and she passed away not long after hearing the bad news. Over the years, the Lu family had never given up looking for her, but the incident happened suddenly, and later His Majesty caused trouble with the flood. The Lu family was killed or scattered, and there were only a few maids and old women who knew her face. Even the Lu family thought she died in the flood, so for so many years, she and the Lu family missed each other.
Perhaps it was the words of the head of the Lu family that evoked her hidden memories. From then on, she dreamed every night of her father's corpse covered with a white cloth and her mother's pale face and dim pupils.
How could she not be cruel? If it weren't for the dog emperor, how could she end up with her family broken up and her loved ones dead, and how could she have wandered as a beggar for several years.
But now, she has become the concubine of her enemy... This twisted reality almost tore her apart.
"My beauty, is it too hot and you're not feeling well?"
Fuyao, her personal maid, asked worriedly. This was a young palace maid assigned from the Imperial Household Department. She looked pure-hearted, but Nianyue didn't completely trust her.
Coming back to her senses, Nian Yue just smiled:
"It's okay, I'm just a little stuffy. I'm going to go walk around the waterside pavilion in the Imperial Garden to get some fresh air. You don't have to follow me."
She just wanted to be alone, even for a moment.
In the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden stood a rockery by the water, a remote location rarely visited. Nian Yue habitually headed there, seeking a moment of peace and quiet to clear her mind.
However, before she got close, she could faintly hear the sound of very low sobbing and whispering coming from behind the rockery. This alerted her heart, and she immediately dodged and hid behind the dense flowers nearby, subconsciously holding her breath.
There were two elderly maids hiding in the shadow of the rockery, burning paper money and sobbing softly as they burned.
"...Your Majesty, we are here to see you again...Are you well in the grave?" A choked voice said.
"Your Majesty is such a good person, I think she must have been reborn into a good family long ago. It's just hard for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Today is his birthday, but His Royal Highness hasn't celebrated it since Your Majesty passed away."
Another voice was filled with sorrow, "Alas... who said it wasn't true? I'm sure His Highness is not feeling well either."
Nian Yue's heart suddenly sank! The Crown Prince's birthday? The Queen's death anniversary? She instantly remembered the rumors in the palace about the late Queen's death in childbirth.
At this moment, the first maid lowered her voice even lower, filled with fear and indignation: "What about a difficult labor... that's all a lie! The Queen was clearly... was clearly forced to commit suicide! ... His Majesty... he listened to the slander of those villains!"
"Shh! You're courting death! Keep your voice down!" another maid hurriedly stopped him. "I heard that night...that night His Highness went to see the Empress, and the Empress was hanging from the eaves...Since then, His Highness's personality has changed drastically...Your Majesty, because of those groundless rumors, saying that the Empress was with...with that young general...Your Majesty actually believed them..."
"Your Majesty has long wanted to... to take action against the Queen's family... and this is a perfect opportunity to exploit this issue... Your Majesty is... committing suicide to protect the Crown Prince..."
"Poor Prince, your birthday is also your mother's death anniversary... How painful it must be..."
"Stop talking... Let's finish burning and leave... Have you forgotten how many people died in the name of silence? We're lucky to be alive today..."
The ashes of the burnt paper money were blown away by the wind. The two old maids were like frightened birds. They hurriedly packed up their things, looked around, and left in a hurry.
Only Nian Yue was left behind the flowers, her whole body cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cave!
She really didn't expect that the dog emperor could be so heartless, suspicious and vicious! In order to suppress the aristocratic family, he even forced his first wife, who had given birth to his legitimate son, to death!
The dog emperor deserves to die!
She suddenly remembered the prince's eyes, which were often gloomy and violent. It turned out that such heavy pain and hatred were buried deep in them.
This pain and hatred accompanied him almost throughout his growing years.
Trembling, she rose from the flowers, straightening her slightly disheveled clothes and hairpin. Nian Yue put on her gentle and submissive mask again. However, the remaining trace of confusion and struggle in her eyes had faded, replaced by a tempered, icy determination.
She walked back to the magnificent cage step by step, her steps extremely steady.
The road ahead was still long, and she had to be more careful and patient. But the goal had never been clearer.
At the same time, the Prince's Eastern Palace.
The night was as dark as ink, and the palace lanterns cast a dim glow in the corridor, making everything around it quiet and depressing.
"Thank you, Eunuch Wei."
A low voice sounded. Xiao Wangshu had changed into an inconspicuous eunuch's attire at this time. He lowered his head with the brim of his hat covering part of his eyebrows and eyes. He was whispering thanks to the young eunuch in front of him.
Eunuch Wei quickly moved aside, his voice full of respect and caution:
"Master Xiao, I am sorry to trouble you. Being able to share the burdens of your Highness and you is a blessing I have earned in several lifetimes... Your Highness should be in the palace at this hour. If you have no other instructions, I will withdraw."
Eunuch Wei knew that tonight was the anniversary of the Crown Prince's mother's death, and that His Highness was in a very bad mood. Who among the people below would dare to offend him? Looking around, the only person in the world who could comfort His Highness was this person.
Eunuch Wei quietly retreated into the shadows, heading towards the familiar palace gate. The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace tonight was particularly somber. The patrolling guards seemed to deliberately lower their footsteps, and a silent sense of grief hung in the air. Perhaps Eunuch Wei had given instructions beforehand. No one stopped him even at the palace gate.
I gently pushed open the heavy door, a creaking sound that was particularly clear in the silence. Inside the hall, only a few dim candles were lit, the light barely illuminating the outlines of the furniture. Deeper inside, there was a blurry darkness.
He turned around and closed the palace door, but when he looked back, he was startled by the prince who had suddenly appeared in front of him.
After calming down, Xiao Wangshu saw the prince's expression clearly with the help of the dim candlelight. Just one glance made his heart ache.
He stretched out his hands and hugged His Highness tightly in his arms. The coldness of his touch made Xiao Wangshu feel frightened. He subconsciously lowered his head and found that Xie Xuanhui was "barefoot" again, stepping directly on the cold floor!
"I've told you several times, Your Highness, but you won't listen." Xiao Wangshu's voice trembled slightly, expressing both anger and heartache. "Although it's almost July, it's still chilly. Your Highness doesn't take care of his health. What should I do?"
He said no more, bent down, put his arms through Xie Xuanhui's knees and back, and with a little force, he picked him up sideways. This time, the prince was obedient, and even subconsciously wrapped his cold arms around his neck, buried his face in his neck, absorbing that familiar, reassuring warmth.
After placing the person gently on the edge of the wide bed, Xiao Wangshu was about to get up to get a towel to wipe the prince's feet, but his wrist was grabbed by a cold hand.
"Ashu, come up."
Sensing the fragility in His Highness's tone, Xiao Wangshu readily took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. However, he didn't simply lie down. Instead, he reached out again, embracing the man radiating loneliness and coldness into his arms, warming him with his body heat.
Like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood, His Highness immediately wrapped himself up and pressed his cold hands and feet against Xiao Wangshu's warm skin. The cold touch made Xiao Wangshu tremble slightly, and he hugged him tighter.
The temperature of her body surface gradually rose. After an unknown amount of time nestled in Xiao Wangshu's arms, the hoarse voice of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rang out in the dark night.
"I actually... don't really remember... what she looked like." The overlapping of two lifetimes washed away those already sparse and vague memories of my mother, leaving only a hazy, warm, yet indistinct white mist. "Ah Shu, do you think... if we could go back to an earlier time, would she... still be alive?"
Like words whispered in a dream, Xie Xuanhui's voice was so soft that it seemed like it could be easily blown away by the wind.
Hearing this, Xiao Wangshu felt as if his heart was pierced by needles. He lowered his head, gently resting his chin on the top of Xie Xuanhui's head. One hand gently and rhythmically stroked his cold hair like a waterfall. His voice was extremely soft and slow, as if he was comforting a frightened child:
"Your Highness, I am but an ordinary mortal. Fate is never controlled by us. All we can do is welcome its arrival and make every possible preparation for it."
His voice was firm and convincing, and behind every word was a promise to His Highness.
But before he could finish his words, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, causing him to groan in pain.
His Highness buried his head in his shoulder, as if awakened by his groan of pain. The strength of his bite suddenly loosened a lot, but he still kept the tip of his teeth against the soft flesh, stroking it gently.
The night is still long, but it is not difficult to endure because of the people around me.
Time flies. Just a few days after the prince's birthday, the wedding day of Princess Duanyang and Yao Ce arrived.
As the most beloved princess of Zhongshan Kingdom, Duan Yang suffered a lot of criticism because of her marriage, so the wedding could not be held in a grand manner.
But she was a princess of a country after all, so her wedding was naturally a grand ceremony with a red wedding dress stretching ten miles long and a magnificent ceremonial procession, showing the utmost honor and dignity for the royal family’s wedding of a daughter.
However, beneath this glitz and glamour, there were undercurrents that were difficult to ignore. Most notably, on the day of the wedding, the Fourth Prince fell ill and was unable to attend the ceremony.
You must know that as the leading figure of the Fourth Prince's faction, Yao Ce has offended many people. Now that he is getting married, the Fourth Prince is not in attendance. This move is like throwing a piece of ice into the lively wedding banquet, instantly cooling the enthusiasm of many officials who came to congratulate him.
The members of the Four Emperors' Party looked at each other in confusion, some even left on the spot; while officials from other factions exchanged knowing glances.
This undoubtedly sent a clear and cruel signal - this newly crowned number one scholar and the sought-after prince consort did not seem to be valued by the Fourth Prince, and might even... have been regarded as an abandoned child.
Yao Ce, clad in a vibrant red wedding gown, accepted the crowd's congratulations, yet his face betrayed no trace of the joy of a true bridegroom. The crimson hue, like a sarcasm, reflected the coldness and embarrassment within him. He could sense the probing, sympathetic, even gloating gazes from all around him, each one like a needle piercing his proud pride. The Fourth Prince's absence was not only a humiliation to Yao Ce, but also a denial of his abilities and a stunting of his future.
And all this was just because he became Princess Duanyang's consort.
The wedding was barely completed in a delicate and depressing atmosphere.
Halfway through the ceremony, the groom's house, which was supposed to host a banquet for the guests, disappeared without a trace.
After asking the servant Xiao Wangshu, he found Yao Ce with flushed cheeks in the side hall.
"Brother Yao, why are you doing this?"
Xiao Wangshu stopped the wine glass and couldn't bear to see him look so decadent.
"Brother Xiao, are you here to laugh at me too?"
Pulling away Xiao Wangshu's pull on his sleeve, Yao Ce hated the unfairness of his fate, but he did not have Xiao Wangshu's courage, so he could only become a useless man at the mercy of others.
"Brother Yao, please don't say such hurtful words." Taking the wine glass away again, Xiao Wangshu's eyes were sharp. He simply got straight to the point. "The Fourth Prince's actions today have made the intention clear. A wise bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a wise minister chooses a master to serve. The only way to break this predicament now is for you to turn to a wise ruler! If you are willing, I can introduce you to my master."
There were no lights on here, and the moonlight shone on Xiao Wangshu's face, changing between light and dark. Yao Ce was almost sober at that time, and then he was filled with humiliation and anger of being looked down upon.
"Brother Xiao! Lord Xiao! Grand Secretary Xiao, yes, I'm not as good as you. I lost to you in the couplet competition, but the title of top scholar is yours! After so much effort... after so much effort! I became a disciple of the Fourth Prince, stayed in the capital, and was later promoted to Minister of Personnel. My career is flourishing!"
He looked like a madman, wearing a bright red wedding gown, with an expression of anger that he could not conceal at all, and he was dancing and roaring about his unwillingness.
"But you! ...But you!" He pointed at Xiao Wangshu's face. "But you have made great achievements one after another, and His Majesty personally summoned you back to the capital to be appointed a Grand Secretary! And I was appointed the consort of the Sixth Prince's sister by the Emperor's decree. They say I have always intended to betray... Even the Fourth Prince doesn't believe me! Look! I am not as good as you again! But I didn't betray! We are both from the Fourth Prince's faction, and now you ask me to choose another wise ruler. Aren't you just trying to humiliate me?"
As he spoke, he burst into tears and swept the wine glasses and jugs on the table to the ground with a flick of his sleeves, making a crisp and harsh sound.
Xiao Wangshu's frown hadn't relaxed since Yao Ce started accusing him. He had never thought Yao Ce would think so much of him. He didn't have time to dodge the drink Yao Ce was throwing at him, and it spilled halfway over him. Taking a few deep breaths, Xiao Wangshu stood up with a sullen face and said:
"You're drunk, so I won't argue with you. I just have one thing to tell you. I've never looked down on you. I even admire you. What I said today is simply because I value your talent. I don't want this shining pearl of yours to be covered in dust. When you sober up and think clearly, come find me."
After saying that, he was about to leave, but he never expected Yao Ce to scold him as he left:
"Sir Xiao, we have different ideals and cannot work together. Since Yao Ce has chosen his master, he is definitely not a fickle person! I also ask you to tell His Highness the Fourth Prince that I understand that His Highness must have had some unavoidable difficulties in not coming today. Sir Xiao, there is no need for you to bother to stir up trouble here!"
There was no room for maneuver in these words. Xiao Wangshu sighed lightly and left without stopping.
That night, after all the guests had left, Yao Ce sat alone in his study, without even changing out of his wedding clothes. He had never thought of consummating his marriage with this "princess".
The red candle on the table burned brightly, illuminating his gloomy face. His heart was filled with anger, confusion, and a cold feeling of being completely betrayed and abandoned.
The absence of the Fourth Prince was like a heavy hammer, shattering his many fantasies about the path to power, and Xiao Wangshu's words were like a poisonous thorn, piercing deep into his heart, forcing him to face the cruel future.
Just as he was in a state of panic, the servant came quietly to report, his voice filled with suspicion and fear:
"Your Majesty, the Sixth…Sixth Prince has come to visit late at night and is currently waiting in the side hall."
Hearing this, Yao Ce stood up suddenly! The Sixth Prince? What was he doing here? He couldn't help but pace back and forth, thinking about the Sixth Prince's intentions.
Although he was full of doubts, he did not dare to delay. He quickly straightened his robe and walked quickly to the side hall.
At this time, the Sixth Prince Xie Yongheng was standing with his hands behind his back, still clutching his iconic fan, his back to the main entrance of the side hall. He turned around when he heard footsteps, and quickly helped Yao Ce, who was bowing to him, to his feet, with just the right amount of sympathy and indignation on his face:
"Prince Consort Yao, I have heard everything that happened today."
He sighed, his tone heavy, "Fourth Brother's actions are truly... so disheartening! Duanyang is his biological sister, and you are his biological brother-in-law, and an indispensable pillar of his army! He treats you so disrespectfully, wouldn't it chill the hearts of wise men all over the world?"
Every word he said hit Yao Ce's most painful spot with incredible precision. His expression became even uglier, his lips pursed tightly, and he tried hard not to respond, but his violently rising and falling chest betrayed his turbulent emotions.
The Sixth Prince observed his reaction and understood. He suddenly changed the subject, lowering his voice even more, yet still full of persuasive power:
"Prince Consort Yao, you are full of talent and have great ambitions! Are you willing to be forever inferior to others, even to be so despised and humiliated? What his fourth brother can give you, I can give you; what he can't give you, such as true respect and reliance, I can also give you! Besides, now that you and my sister are married, we are family, aren't we?"
He took a step forward and stared at Yao Ce with burning eyes:
"I know Xiao Wangshu came to see you today. To be honest, Xiao Wangshu is a two-faced man. His real master is the tyrannical Crown Prince. He came to recruit you but he didn't even tell you the truth. How can you trust him?"
He opened his folding fan, a smile on his face, and every word he uttered was filled with terrible magic.
"But I am different! I'm eager to seek talented individuals, considering only their abilities. My personal presence here demonstrates my sincerity. If you're willing to lend me a hand, I'll be the first to succeed! Then, the position of Prime Minister will be yours! Isn't that far better than enduring this endless humiliation under Fourth Brother's command?"
These words were like a scalding torrent pouring into Yao Ce's dry, despairing heart! Power, status, respect, the thrill of revenge against those who had despised him... countless temptations swirled in his mind. His utter disappointment in the Fourth Prince, his jealousy of Xiao Wangshu, his deep concern for his future, and his deep-seated desire for the pinnacle of power were perfectly ignited and exploited by the Sixth Prince at this moment.
He recalled Xiao Wangshu's recruitment during the day, which was somewhat like "charity", and then saw the Sixth Prince personally visiting him late at night, promising him huge profits and showing the utmost "respect"; he remembered that a long time ago, Xiao Wangshu persuaded him to join the Fourth Prince's army - at that time, Xiao Wangshu was probably already the prince's man; he also thought of the day of the horse parade, the day at the poetry club, and the day when he represented the students to submit a memorial.
The balance has tilted.
The study fell into deathly silence, with only the crackling of candlelight. Struggle, hesitation, and ambition flashed alternately on Yao Ce's face.
After a long moment, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes turned into complete determination. He suddenly raised his head and looked at the Sixth Prince. Then, lifting his robe, he slowly but firmly knelt down, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Your Highness, your servant...Yao Ce, is willing to serve you with all his might! Even if it means sacrificing my life for you, I will not hesitate!"
The Sixth Prince smiled a confident smile, bent down, and enthusiastically helped him up. "Excellent! Excellent! It's truly heaven's help that I have Prince Consort Yao! Today's appointment is witnessed by both heaven and earth!"
A late-night, secret conversation completely reshaped Yao Ce's political career. A pawn filled with resentment and ambition, the Sixth Prince had successfully manipulated into his own game. Yet, Xiao Wangshu and the grieving Crown Prince remained completely unaware of all this.
The sky of Bianjing thus changed quietly and dramatically.
Since Princess Duanyang married Yao Ce, Yao Ce stayed indoors and Xiao Wangshu had not seen him for several days. He knew that he had rejected his proposal.
Midsummer has arrived, but the weather has not been good and heavy rain has been pouring down for several days, weighing on everyone's mind.
Suddenly, during a court meeting, thunder and lightning flashed. A sudden, urgent report arrived: the river had burst its banks again after six years! The flood wreaked havoc, causing countless casualties, displaced victims, and widespread grief.
In the Golden Palace, the emperor's face was as gloomy as water, and he threw the Hezhou prefect's memorial for help heavily onto the imperial desk.
"Useless! A bunch of useless people! They've allocated funds for dike repairs year after year, yet they've only produced such shoddy work! Where is the Minister of Works? Investigate this thoroughly! Severe punishment is unacceptable!"
The emperor was furious, his voice shaking the palace.
All the ministers knelt on the ground with their heads bowed low, fearing that they would be noticed by His Majesty.
However, the most urgent task is disaster relief. Tens of thousands of victims are displaced and crying for food. If the situation is not handled properly, it will trigger a civil unrest.
"My lords, who is willing to share my worries and take charge of the disaster relief work?" The emperor glanced at his ministers. Now that the treasury was empty, it was obvious that this was a thankless job. Naturally, all the princes avoided the emperor's gaze.
There is a prince among them who does not play by the rules. He is the fourth prince Xie Jingrong.
The Fourth Prince had lost two key generals in quick succession, both in the marriage and the consorting of his wife, and his political affairs had naturally been a bit unsettling. He had approached Xiao Wangshu, but he had repeatedly declined, citing his need for training. He had also offered guidance several times, and while he'd wanted to ask again, he didn't dare get too close to him with His Majesty watching over him, so naturally, he made frequent mistakes.
Many ministers who were forced to clean up his mess complained about this.
He thought this was a golden opportunity to rebuild his image and gain merit, so he immediately stepped out and knelt down to say:
"Your Majesty! I am willing to go! I will do my utmost to comfort the victims and dispatch supplies. I will never let your Majesty down!"
The emperor looked at the fourth prince who had volunteered and pondered for a moment. Although he was not very satisfied with the fourth prince's performance before, he was in urgent need of someone, so he nodded and agreed:
"Okay! I will appoint you as the Imperial Commissioner to oversee disaster relief efforts in Hezhou and other areas. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works must fully cooperate and allocate grain and silver to provide swift relief! If anything goes wrong, you will be held accountable!"
"Your son obeys the order! I will definitely live up to your trust, father!" The fourth prince was secretly delighted, as if he had already seen the scene of himself being rewarded and regaining the emperor's favor after successfully completing the task.
The Fourth Prince, carrying the Emperor's expectations and order for disaster relief, headed to the disaster area in a grand procession.
Wherever the floods in Hezhou passed, houses collapsed, fertile fields were destroyed, and countless people and animals drowned. Wailing sounds filled the fields, and floating corpses blocked the river. The once prosperous plains suddenly became a vast ocean, a horrific sight.
But at this time the Fourth Prince was in trouble. How could he save the people from disaster without any money?
Just when the Fourth Prince was in a state of panic, a member of his staff named Jia Ren made a suggestion:
"Your Highness, disaster relief is as urgent as putting out a fire. In my humble opinion, there are quite a few wealthy and unscrupulous merchants in Hezhou and the surrounding counties who are hoarding grain, and their warehouses are piling up like mountains. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! Why don't you exercise your privilege as an imperial envoy and 'borrow' their stored grain to alleviate this urgent need? Once the imperial government's grain payment arrives, you can 'compensate' them."
Ostensibly speaking for the sake of disaster relief, these words harbor sinister intentions. How will "compensation" be paid? If these wealthy merchants refuse, will they be robbed? It's important to remember that these wealthy merchants are a complex web of connections, and the forces behind them can be entangled. Not only would they offend others, but if someone reported them for extortion, they would suffer heavy consequences.
Poor Fourth Prince didn't know that the staff around him had already become the Sixth Prince's spies, and at this time this staff was still instigating the Fourth Prince.
"Fourth Prince! Those merchants, facing national crisis, refused to contribute a cent. Your Highness is acting for the people. How dare they disobey?"
The Fourth Prince, who was overwhelmed by the desire to "achieve great things", thought that this plan was very good. It not only solved the immediate problem, but also demonstrated his "courage".
Without any deep thought or understanding of the consequences of this action, he issued an order: "In the name of the imperial envoy, 'expropriate' the granaries of the local wealthy merchants!"
At the first sign of the order, the ferocious soldiers rushed into major businesses, grain stores, and even the homes of some gentry, forcibly "requiring" grain without explanation. In the process, violent clashes, embezzlement, and even looting were inevitable.
The Fourth Prince did not impose strict controls on this matter, but pretended to be ignorant of it. He felt that these wealthy businessmen had made money from the national crisis, and now it was just "karma."
The wealthy merchants dared not speak out, their resentment deep within them. Some of those with connections immediately secretly passed on information through various channels to Bianjing, complaining and making grievances. Much of this information found its way accurately into the hands of the Sixth Prince and his cronies.
This was exactly the effect the Sixth Prince was aiming for. While secretly instructing his followers to stir up the anger of the wealthy merchants, he also sent people to contact these wealthy merchants in the guise of "sympathizers," hinting that if they could provide "evidence" that the Fourth Prince had "forcibly requisitioned grain and embezzled it," they would be generously rewarded in the future and their property would be protected.
Not long after, the court's first batch of disaster relief silver and supplies finally arrived.
Seeing the huge piles of silver, the Fourth Prince and the greedy people around him became more active.
Under the instruction of the Sixth Prince, Jia Ren and others once again instigated:
"Your Highness, the number of disaster victims is enormous, making it difficult to accurately count. There's a lot of room for manipulation here! Furthermore, when distributing food, some stale rice bran was mixed in. These disaster victims were so starving that they couldn't tell the difference.
The new rice and silver saved can be used partly to bribe officials and make up for the 'shortfall' from this 'grain collection', and the other part... can also be used to enrich His Highness's treasury to prepare for the needs of the great cause."
At first, the Fourth Prince scolded the other party severely, but he began to regret it after a few days. Seeing that the big box of silver was shrinking day by day, the Fourth Prince did not care about anything else.
He first mixed some old rice bran into the rice porridge eaten by the victims. Some people noticed it at first, but they didn't dare to make trouble. They even comforted themselves by saying that it was good to have something to eat. The Fourth Prince just found it funny, but on the other hand, he was happy for the remaining silver.
He then began to falsify the number of people affected by the disaster, and even took kickbacks and cut corners in projects such as building temporary resettlement sites and purchasing medicinal materials for epidemic prevention. He had gone further and further down the path of greed.
However, he didn't know that Jia Ren and others had secretly collected evidence of his corruption and sent it to the Sixth Prince through secret channels.
When the time was ripe, the impeachment memorial from the Sixth Prince's followers was like a sharp arrow that had been prepared long ago, shot accurately towards the emperor.
The memorial not only listed in detail the three major crimes of the Fourth Prince, namely "forcibly collecting grain from the people and stirring up public anger", "embezzling disaster relief funds and selling inferior goods as good ones", and "falsely reporting the population and deceiving the emperor", but also included a joint complaint from wealthy businessmen, a comparison of real and fake account books, moldy rice samples, and signed confessions from key handlers!
The emperor was furious and sent the fourth prince back to Bian Jing overnight. The matter of the disaster area was handed over to Yao Ce, who had returned from his honeymoon leave.
In front of all the civil and military officials in the Golden Palace, the emperor threw the memorial and the evidence to the ground and scolded the Fourth Prince bitterly:
"Rebellious son! Idiot! I asked you to go provide disaster relief, but you imposed heavy taxes, embezzled the funds, and ignored the lives of the victims! Do you think Zhongshan's rule is too stable? Are you trying to force those victims to rise up in rebellion? You deserve to die!"
"Stupid! Incompetent! Greedy! Shortsighted! You've completely disregarded the people's livelihood and betrayed His Majesty's grace! I'm so disappointed in you!"
Every rebuke from the emperor was like a heavy hammer hitting the Fourth Prince's heart, making his face pale and his whole body tremble, unable to even utter a word of defense.
In a rage, the emperor even issued an order immediately:
"Immediately strip the Fourth Prince of all his positions and powers, and confine him to the Imperial Clan Court! Thoroughly investigate his accomplices, and severely punish all those implicated!"
The Fourth Prince collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself, obviously unable to accept this reality.
After this incident, the power of the Fourth Prince's party collapsed in an instant, and most of them were gone. Xie Jingrong's reputation in the court plummeted to the bottom, and it was almost impossible for him to compete for the throne.
The secret room in the Sixth Prince’s Mansion.
"Fourth brother is still too stupid." The Sixth Prince Xie Yongheng played with the folding fan in his hand, with a sneer on his face as if everything was under control.
Liang Wang Xie Yimeng sipped his tea leisurely, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness:
“He is now a trapped beast. If he is given a glimmer of fire, he will think it is a way out and rush forward desperately.
Your Majesty visits the Lishan Mountain Resort every summer, and this year is no exception. This is a perfect opportunity."
"Uncle Wang is absolutely right." The Sixth Prince leaned closer and lowered his voice, "But compared to him, I'm more worried about the Crown Prince."
"Oh, what's the prince? He comes from an aristocratic family, and my brother will only hate him."
Prince Liang didn't care about this. When the previous emperor was alive, he was constrained by the aristocratic families. After the current emperor was made the crown prince, he was forced to marry the young lady of the Lu family. The emperor would probably never forget that humiliation.
"That being said, my father recently conferred the title of Beauty upon a concubine, and a few days ago he even promoted her to the rank of Concubine. This is unprecedented." He tossed and caught his folding fan, and the Sixth Prince, falling before the Prince of Liang, always revealed a bit of a childish nature. He paused at the key point, turning to meet the Prince's gaze.
"My mother said that this Wanpin bears a striking resemblance to the late Empress Lu, especially her eyebrows and eyes, which are as if they were carved from the same mold."
"What?!"
This time, King Liang was not calm either. He even found it a little unbelievable.
How could this be? He thought, his royal brother is really weird. He personally forced Empress Lu to death, and now he is constantly showing favor to a woman who looks like Empress Lu. He is really a scumbag.
"It's okay, but I'm just a woman, how much trouble can I stir up? Rather than that, I should think about how to force your good fourth brother."
Rubbing his eyebrows, King Liang leaned back and closed his eyes to rest.
"My father visits the Lishan Mountain Resort every summer, and this year is no exception. This is a perfect opportunity. My undercover agent will convince him to rebel, and then he won't be able to do anything about it.
I will arrange three waves of people at that time.
In the first wave, we will send people disguised as the Fourth Prince's assassins to attack His Majesty's carriage. Regardless of success or failure, they will leave behind "ironclad evidence" pointing to the Fourth Prince.
The second wave, comprised of my meticulously trained experts, will target the Crown Prince. If they can take advantage of the chaos to kill him, then so be it. If they can't, then retreat once the signal is given. Most importantly, they must preserve any links to the "rebels"... In short, they must leave him speechless. This way, Fourth Brother will be implicated in treason, and the Crown Prince will be implicated.
As for the third wave, it doesn't exist, but I have to pretend, even if I'm injured. When the time comes, I will naturally 'bravely protect you', even if my injuries worsen and I faint."
"This is a very good plan. Now we have to see when your fourth brother will be fooled."
Nodding, King Liang was very satisfied with this strategy.
Ever since each prince decided on his queen, the construction of his mansion began, and not long ago they all moved out of the Forbidden Garden.
Today, the Fourth Prince's Mansion is no longer bustling as before, and is filled with silence and depression. Xie Jingrong spends all day drinking to drown his sorrows, and his temperament has become increasingly strange. Most of the servants in the Fourth Prince's Mansion have also been reduced in number. One can only feel pity for the future Fourth Prince's Consort.
His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince, who was lying on the stone table drinking to drown his sorrows, heard footsteps coming. He looked up and saw who was coming.
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