"Why do I feel that there is some other grudge between you and Xu Chengjin?" Zhong Zhiheng said indifferently, "This time when you returned to Beijing, you were much colder towards the Queen Mother."
"What? Brother Emperor, are you suspecting that I am planning to take revenge?" Zhong Zhiling pursed his lips.
"So what if I'm taking revenge for personal gain? Where in this country does the Zhong family belong? As the saying goes, everything is for the public. Everything is for personal gain," Zhong Zhiheng smiled faintly, and patted Zhong Zhiling on the shoulder. "And Old Seven, you're right. Anyone who dares to get involved in our Great Zhou will die."
…
That night.
Pingxi Palace.
When Meng Tan hurried in from outside, Zhong Zhiling was having a drink in the study. There was nothing fancy. Just a pot of wine, a plate of spicy chicken and a plate of peanuts. Seeing Meng Tan coming in, Zhong Zhiling pointed to the seat opposite and said, "Come. Sit down and have a drink with me."
"Yes," Meng Tan took a wine glass and sat opposite. He poured wine for the two of them. He said to Zhong Zhiling, "Your Highness, this time the Emperor can fully trust our Northwest Army. It's rare. I thought the Emperor would trust the troops of Huguang more. At most, he would let our Northwest Army help. I didn't expect that the Emperor would not mind Your Highness at all and trust you completely."
"He doesn't trust me. He trusts hatred, and believes that I am a vindictive person," Zhong Zhiling took a sip of wine and ate peanuts with relish while talking to Meng Tan, "He guessed the feud between Xu Chengjin and me, and knew that I hated the Xu family to the core, so he believed that the Northwest Army would go all out for the Southern Xinjiang Camp. Otherwise, let alone letting the Northwest Army handle it, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be allowed to participate in such a confidential matter."
"No matter what, the downfall of the Xu family is imminent, which is cause for celebration," Meng Tan said to Zhong Zhiling with a smile, holding up his wine glass, "Congratulations to the prince for getting his revenge."
"Great revenge?" Zhong Zhiling laughed sarcastically, and while drinking the wine in the glass, he said slowly, "It's still too early."
"Your Highness," Meng Tan asked hesitantly, sizing up Zhong Zhiling's expression, "If we bring down the Xu family, the Queen Mother will certainly be implicated. Then..."
"When the time comes, the emperor will naturally make the final decision. Why would he care about me?" Zhong Zhiling said calmly, picking up a piece of spicy chicken with chopsticks and putting it into his mouth. After a pause, he looked at Meng Tan and said, "By the way, how is the matter I asked you to investigate going?"
"Your Highness, I have already investigated the matter and was just about to report it to you," Meng Tan said, putting down his chopsticks in a hurry. "This time, the rumor that Prince Hui was born a homosexual was spread from the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. It was not someone from the Right Prime Minister's Mansion in the capital, but two servants in the farm outside mentioned it during a casual chat."
"It's incredible that the servants in the manor outside knew such a secret of the phoenix and dragon, and the gossip about the servants spread to the whole capital, and even the court officials made a fuss about it. These two servants must be extraordinary," Zhong Zhiling curled his lips sarcastically, and asked, "What about Prince Hui?"
"Your Highness, everything is peaceful and harmonious in the Prince Hui's mansion," Meng Tan looked at Zhong Zhiling with a puzzled look on his face. "Your Highness, since he was labeled as a homosexual, Prince Hui would have been furious and would have launched a counterattack. However, Prince Hui did nothing. Moreover, even Minister Cui and Minister Zou did not argue for Prince Hui in the court. They just said lightly that rumors should not be trusted. Your Highness, why do I find this weird the more I look at it?"
"If it's weird, there must be a reason," Zhong Zhiling said slowly, stroking the wine glass as he continued, "Maybe Prince Hui has something on Prince Rong and is waiting for a desperate counterattack. Or maybe Prince Hui can prove his innocence. The less he does now, the more he will take the initiative later."
"Prove your innocence? How can you prove your innocence in such a matter?" Meng Tan was surprised. "Could it be that the Princess of Hui County is pregnant?"
As soon as the words fell, Meng Tan was stunned. He covered his mouth and looked at Zhong Zhiling, whispering: "Could it be that the Princess of Hui County is really pregnant?"
"I think it's probably true. Otherwise, how could a man endure it for so long when his pain is touched?" Zhong Zhiling said slowly, taking a sip of wine. "The emperor's intention is very interesting. He knows very well where these rumors came from, and he should also know the tricks of the women in the harem. But he just let it go and let Prince Rong and Prince Hui get worse and worse, and let the Zhao family, Cui family, and Zou family become more and more entangled."
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