It was no secret that the Ninth Prince was known as the God of Wealth in the capital, even though the court had laws prohibiting Manchus from engaging in commerce.
However, it is not considered a violation of the court's rules that the Ninth Prince hired someone to help him manage his business.
"Next door? You're not mistaken?" Li Tiao was still a little surprised when she heard Hongye say that the Ninth Prince was in the private room next to theirs.
The restaurant she randomly chose was the Ninth Prince's place, so Li Tiao wasn't too surprised, but she was a little surprised to run into the Ninth Prince there.
"Yes, this servant would not be mistaken."
In ancient times, the private rooms of restaurants weren't expected to be very soundproof, so Li Tiao gestured to Hongye to keep her voice down.
She was mainly afraid that the Ninth Prince next door would hear Hongye and her talking, but she never expected that although Hongye's voice was not loud, Li Tiao could hear the Ninth Prince's voice clearly.
"Are you sure this is true?" That was the Ninth Prince's voice.
"Reporting to the Ninth Prince, it is true. Soetu and the Crown Prince colluded to try to cut off the supply lines to the front lines."
Li Tiao covered her mouth in disbelief, afraid that she would scream out loud.
"master……"
Hongye exclaimed in surprise, and the Ninth Prince next door seemed to hear her: "Who!"
Then she heard hurried footsteps next door, and Hongye started to tremble.
Li Tiao was also flustered, but thanks to her extensive knowledge of TV dramas, she recognized the scene the moment the Ninth Prince's men pushed open the door: Li Tiao holding Hongye, and a man and a woman holding each other...
Because Li Tiao's hair was still shaved, and her face couldn't be seen from the side, it looked like a man's hairstyle. So, the Ninth Prince's men took a look, closed the door, and left.
Soon, Li Tiao and Hongye heard a voice from next door: "Ninth Prince, there's a man and a woman next door. It looks like that young master is out having an affair."
Are you sure?
“Ninth Prince, it’s possible that other servants might be mistaken, but a man and a woman… it’s so easy to tell them apart, their hair is different.”
The Ninth Prince remained silent, still discussing with others the issue of insufficient provisions for Emperor Kangxi's personal expedition.
Li Tiao gave Hongye a wink, signaling her to leave.
Li Tiao, who is usually a bit stingy, left the silver ingots as soon as she put them down this time, without even waiting for the waiter to give her change.
After leaving the restaurant, Li Tiao quickly instructed Hongye: "When we get back to Qunxing Tower, find a clever person and have him go find the Thirteenth Prince."
"Your Majesty, the Thirteenth Prince is in the palace."
“I know. Send someone to the palace to look for him. If they can’t get into the palace, tell the guards on duty to pass on a message to the Thirteenth Prince. In short, we must get the Thirteenth Prince to come to the Star Pavilion today.”
Li Tiao hurried back while giving instructions.
Hongye had overheard the conversation between the Ninth Prince and that man, and naturally knew how serious this matter was. She dared not delay, and upon returning to the Star Pavilion, she immediately went to make arrangements for it.
After giving the instructions, Hongye was worried that others might delay things, so she said to Li Tiao, "Master, why don't I go and make the trip? After all, I come from the palace and know how to deal with the guards on duty at the palace gate."
Li Tiao neither agreed nor disagreed.
Hongye probably guessed Li Tiao's hesitation, and she said, "Master, I will be careful not to be recognized, but I think the guards probably don't recognize me either."
"That's true, but let's wait and see. After all, you used to work in the manor. If someone recognizes you, it will be troublesome."
Fortunately, the Thirteenth Prince arrived quickly.
"What is it?"
Li Tiao relayed what she had heard from the Ninth Prince to the Thirteenth Prince: "You must find a way to talk to the Fourth Prince, and from now on, you must find a way to unite with the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince to procure provisions together. Under no circumstances should the front lines be cut off from supplies."
"Are you telling the truth?" The Thirteenth Prince was still a little doubtful.
“Of course it’s true. Li Tiao has no need to threaten you, Thirteenth Prince, with such words.”
Normally, the Thirteenth Prince was not very friendly to Li Tiao, but after hearing what she said this time, he was unusually not very unfriendly and fell into deep thought, obviously wondering whether what Li Tiao said was true or false.
"Even if what you're saying is true, asking me to ask Eighth Brother and Ninth Brother for help? Are you kidding me? It would be good enough if they didn't team up with Second Brother to harm Fourth Brother."
She knew that the Thirteenth Prince didn't actually trust her.
In the past, Li Tiao wouldn't have bothered to distinguish between things, but now she couldn't care less.
“Thirteenth Prince, even if you don’t trust Li Tiao, you should know about the situation among you princes, right?”
Li Tiao asks you, if Suo'etu's scheme succeeds and the emperor on the front lines is unable to continue due to food shortages... then who will inherit the throne?
The Eighth Prince has his eye on that position, but given the Emperor's sudden... situation, the Crown Prince will definitely succeed to the throne. You are a member of the royal family, do you have any questions about this?
Therefore, as long as the Eighth Prince harbors ambitions for that position, he won't consider the possibility of anything happening to the Emperor.
"Are you helping Fourth Brother?" Thirteenth Prince stared at Li Tiao for a long time before asking.
"Of course."
"Why?" the Thirteenth Prince asked.
Li Tiao, who was in a hurry, was stunned by what the Thirteenth Prince said.
Why? She hadn't really thought about that question in detail.
After hearing what the Ninth Prince and his men said, Li Tiao had only one thing on her mind: the Fourth Prince must not be harmed.
Li Tiao didn't think too much about how much of it was because of feelings, and how much was because if something happened to the Fourth Prince, Li Tiao, this outsider "butterfly," might also be in trouble.
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